"White Christmas"

Nottingham Theatre Royal.

This is a brand-new CURVE theatre, Leicester production of the Irving Berlin Christmas classic from 1954.

Veterans Bob Wallace (Jay McGuiness) and Phil Davis (Dan Burton) have a successful song-and-dance act after World War II. With romance in mind, the two follow a duo of beautiful singing sisters, Betty and Julie Haynes (Jessica Daley and Monique Young), en route to their Christmas show at a Vermont lodge, which just happens to be owned by Bob and Phil's former army commander, General Henry Waverley (Michael Starke). The lodge is run by Martha (Lorna Luft).

The inn is not doing great business, unbeknown to Waverley, so when Bob, Phil and the Haynes Sisters discover this, they decide to put on a show to draw in the crowds and boost the coffers. But there's some confusion when Betty overhears something and gets the wrong end of the stick, and plans start to unravel. Can Bob save the day and get the girl?

Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye are massive boots to fill and what always worried me in the film was that Bing was so much older than Danny and getting involved with young girls; I'm sure that Bing didn't mind.

In this production Bob is the younger of the two, whereas in the film he was the elder, and the wingman, Phil is the elder.

Dan Burton has a list of musical theatre successes as long as his arm, having been in stage musicals since 2006, and this experience shows in the singing and dancing stakes, and while Jay McGuiness is a confident dancer, and of course, known for his singing with The Wanted, the experience shown by Dan did slightly overshadow the slightly less experienced McGuiness in these stakes.

This is not a knock at Jay because maybe in another ten years' time he will have the gained experience to play a role like Bob Wallace, especially against a dancer with the experience of Dan Burton. Jay has been performing professionally in musical theatre for around six years, but has a song and dance background having trained at the Midlands Academy of Dance and Drama (MADD) here in Nottingham. Plus without facial hair, Jay looks so young, expanding the age gap.

There's a nice contrast in Dan's and Jay's voices though and while Dan's is more musical theatre, Jay has such a sweet, emotive voice, highlighted brilliantly when singing "How Deep Is The Ocean". His harmonising skills of being in a boy band come into force well in this musical. Probably without Jay realising, I think he is going to pick up so many tips from this cast and make him such a strong musical theatre leading man, because with his talents and looks, he is made for leading man status. And I still rate his "Pulp Fiction" jive as the best on Strictly to date.

Lorna Luft is a legend, full stop. Having a mother of the calibre of Judy Garland, you'd expect a powerhouse of a voice. Listening to Lorna you can hear Judy's tone and inflections, but has a lovely deeper tone blended in, which matches so well with this role as concierge with attitude. I've known of Lorna's voice since the 1980's when, as a local mobile DJ, I used to play her dance version of "Where The Boys Are", so it's an honour to see this legend on stage. I adored her version of "Let Me Sing And I'm Happy" featured in this production; a proper old school hat and cane song and dance number.

Michael Starke is an actor that I always look forward to seeing on stage; you know that he is a solid actor. I've seen Michael in "Waitress", where he played the owner of the diner with an American accent, and now he is the owner of the inn, with an American accent. I've also seen Michael in "Hairspray" and loved that as well. Michael can sing but doesn't get much of a chance in "White Christmas" as "Hank", but a wonderful character-driven performance, and lovely to see that smile and twinkle in his eye again. One of the business's gentlemen on and off stage.

The Haynes Sisters are a coupling made in heaven, both with gorgeous voices as a duo and separately. When Jessica Daley, as Betty, sang "Love, You Didn't Do Me Right", I just melted. With Monique, as Julie, I loved the fun, up-tempo "I Love A Piano" with Dan. You can see why Dan and Phil would fall for these "Sisters", which sounded amazing when sung by Jessica and Monique.

Lucy Warway, as Susie, sorry Susan, sorry Broadway Sue, is a dynamite of a performer as the General's Granddaughter who just wants to be a star, like Martha. Brilliant confidence and stage presence.

The cast is completed by Simon Anthony, Tom Bales, Lydia Bannister, George Beet, Imogen Bowtell, Isabel Canning, Gabrielle Cocca, Joseph Craig, Beth Devine, Steve Fortune, Ashton Harkness, Connor Hughes, Owen McHugh, Benjamin Mundy, James Revell, Sadie-Jean Shirley, Matthew Sweet, David Winters and Alex Wright.

Directed by Ian Talbot, with the original Direction by Nikolai Foster. This show makes you feel festive and we even get a smattering of snow in the audience. It makes you want to go and toast marshmallows and drink hot coffee with cream and chocolate sprinkles. This show has kick started Christmas. I love the little finer touches and I did notice that there was no liquid in the champagne glasses for the foursome; they drank and the level never reduced. I imagine though that this would be in case any liquid was spilt on the stage - health and safety understood!

Stephen Mear's choreography is everything that you would expect from a Hollywood blockbuster musical. It has class, style, panache written all over the dance routines, made even more special by just being feet away from your very eyes. It gives you Christmas tingles. I love a good tap sequence and you get a marvellous tap section in "I Love A Piano" and Hollywood glamour with "Let Yourself Go", but let's face it, every choreographed piece is a hit in this show.

The set design is by Michael Taylor, and as with the choreography, it's Hollywood on stage. It has the WOW! factor.

Costumes for this show have the utmost class. It's set between 1944 and 1954 so the style is there. Tuxedos, starched white shirts, bow ties, and the most glamorous of frocks and dresses for the ladies. Everything matched, even the green socks and jacket for Bob and the plum socks and jacket for Phil. Diego Pitarch has ticked every costume box for me in this stylish show.

Musical Direction is by Ben Van Tienen, and it's so lovely to hear such a lush, rounded sound that filled the theatre, swept you up and carried you away on a sea of musical loveliness. You can't beat hearing a quality orchestra live.

The musical features the classic songs "How Deep Is The Ocean", "Blue Skies", "Sisters", "Count Your Blessings", "I Love A Piano", "I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm", "Happy Holidays", "Let Yourself Go" and of course, "White Christmas".

If you want to get yourself in the festive mood, then you could do a lot worse than seeing this classic show. Bring on the holly and mistletoe, I'm ready!

"White Christmas" will be at the Nottingham Theatre Royal until Saturday 26 November, but get your tickets fast as everyone wants to see this magical piece of Christmas fare.