Witty musical's 'gay' abandon THIS is a whimsical tale from an era when the word "gay" simply meant happy.

The script is liberally scattered with "gays" and the show is blessed with a plentiful supply of wittily written songs.

It's a story so light-hearted and, in parts, downright silly, a producer with imagination could make this into a wonderful Christmas pantomime.

Musically this show works very well thanks to producer and musical director Peter Barnett's willingness to keep the accompaniment at a level at which the singers can be clearly heard.

The script presents the cast with problems, partly because in places it is just plain daft, but I expect the timing and delivery will improve after one or two first night nerves. Potentially there are more laughs in this show, and I think they will come in following performances.

Loosely, the story is about a young couple Timothy and Jane, played by husband and wife Louise and Paul Cohen, from well-to-do backgrounds who secretly marry hoping eventually to fall in love with each other.

Meanwhile, a tramp gifts them a magical piano which has the effect of making everyone who hears it start dancing.

The Cohens play their pivotal roles admirably, and I particularly enjoyed the performance of Alice Bowmer, who handled the role of Lady Raeburn with consumate ease.

Allen Christey turned in an excellent performance as the Cleopatra Club manager and in a second role as a camp dress designer.

Generally, this production has a very good pace, and they handled some difficult scene changes, albeit noisily, but effectively. NICK JACKSON

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