THIS little gem of a musical is given a sparkling polish by producer/director Nora Howcroft. The show is about the music hall star Marie Lloyd, who, at the height of her career, is summoned before the Licensing Committee accused of being lewd. Although cleared by the committee, she is barred from appearing in the first Royal Command Performance.

It's a simple tale, fleshed out with some fine performermances.

Judith Stamford is an appealing Marie, showing the the star's vulnerability when she is off stage.

Stamford belts out the music hall numbers - Oh, Mr Porter, Don't Dilly Dally and The Boy I Love - with style.

Chris Oldham plays her second husband, Alec Hurley, with sensitivity and clearly enjoys performing as the raucous comedian.

With a fine Irish accent, Robin Thompson is well cast as the jockey and third husband, Bernard Dillon.

Don Howcroft milks many of the laughs as a delightfully camp Jefferson Arthur Leake, Marie's dressmaker and Robert Margolis is a joy as the avaricious agent Moss Mindlebaumn.

There's an excellent cameo from a Adrian Yapp as Canon Fairbrother, a member of the Licensing Committee.

Costumes are excellent and the staging simple but effective.

The first-night audience clearly enjoyed singing along to the music hall numbers.

Musical Director J Arnold Thornton, playing keyboards, enhances the show. He has written additional music for the production. DOREEN CROWTHER

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