THE opening number of Beauty and the Beast' Comedy Tonight' gives the audience an immediate idea of what this panto is all about.

In fact the programme describes the show as an enchanting musical adventure for all the family. That is an apt description.

Everything is a bit topsy turvy in the nicest possible way. Although the action is set in France we have a fairy with a Yorkshire accent, bent wand and mobile phone comically played by Lois Taylor.

An unconventional Harry Potter reading Beauty played excellently by Becky Cocker. An agile Gigi the horse by Oliver Lloyd, a wonderful singing Dodo by George Scaife and an ugly bug again played by Oliver Lloyd.

There was an age defyingmachine and references to Botox and funniest of all a sausage making machine.

Amongst all this mayhem are Ian White as Professor Camembert, the father of Beauty, and Paul Nowland as Mrs Fifi Potts in other words - the Dame.

These two are hilarious together. Ian is so funny, a star. His use of the French accent accompanied by his comic expressions had the audience in stitches. He is a natural panto comedian.

Paul Nowland is his usual flamboyant Dame, amazing ideas for every costume he wears add to the fun, each costume more outrageous than the last. He leads some great company numbers, choreography energetic fast moving and slick. Paul is also choreographer.

Mark Allen as the innkeeper has a powerful singing voice and young Jonathan Shaw played a very good role as his assistant.

Samantha Ball new to Upstagers panto is a perky and pretty French maid. There are lots of children involved, all making an appearance in the first half of the show.

There is also a fine team of senior dancers including five talented boy dancers.

Musically the second half of the show is far more upbeat, a bit too disco for me and I found the band too loud. However Upstagers attract a large number of older teenagers to their audience and they had a ball.

Audience involvement was a huge success throughout. Fairy Rose has the difficult task of finding someone to fall in love with the Beast, who of course does turn out to be the Prince.

Both roles are played by the young Peter Hargreaves.

Jennifer Ward James looked stunning as valet to the Prince and the executioner is played by Nathaniel Scott.

The MD was Phil Walsh. Written and directed by gill Jackson this show oozes ideas. It is imaginative and funny. A colourful and vibrant panto.

Upstagers are to present Les Mis' at the King's Hall in April and The Wiz' at The Alhambra in June.