Song, dance and wickedly witty lines make this year's pantomime - Cinderella - a must-see.

The well-known fairy tale has been adapted for the stage with a number of comic twists - but all of the traditional elements remain, the bedraggled Cinderella is turned into the belle of the ball by a fairy godmother, there is prince charming and two evil, evil step-sisters, even the requisite retinue of little grey mice doubling as tailors.

Only the wicked step-mother is missing and in her place is Cinderella's father - a down and out Baron named Hardup.

There are also all of the essential pantomime elements - jokes that are not always politically correct, men playing the parts of women and a woman playing the part of the prince. And of course, the audience singing out “behind you” or “oh, yes it is” on cue.

Plenty of elements that make this year's pantomime praiseworthy. In fact, they pretty much got everything right - the lighting, the stage sets, the costumes - especially the garish gams for the step-sisters from costume designer Elizabeth Wingate.

And the acting hit the mark too - with top awards going to Kelvin Hastings-Smith and Shawn Angiers for their portrayal of Millie and Aphis, the horrid step-sisters. It would also be amiss not to mention the performance of Kelsey Bacon for her portrayal of Cinderella. Her graceful moves were in direct contrast to the antics of her oversize, bumbling step-sisters.

But what really makes the show sing is song - with stellar vocal performances from prince charming (played by Jennie Campbell) and the Baron's butler Buttons (played by Tim Rhodes).

The musical score - written especially for this production by James Burn, a teacher at the Bermuda School of Music - must be given credit in the first place and a hand should also go to musical director Mark Dorrell.

Although pantomimes have a reputation as a Christmas tradition for children - adults won't miss out on their share of laughs too. In fact there is plenty in the production that will get a smile from the older crowd - take the quip about needing “a good foundation, like the Berkeley project” and the retort: “I'll get ProActive Construction...”.

The only draw back perhaps is the show's late hour - the production finishes a little late for children, after 10 p.m..

Lilla Zuill