"Hi De Hi" by Masque Productions.

Mansfield Palace Theatre.

I'm sure that this is my first time seeing any production by Masque Productions, and what an introduction to this wonderful group of actors.

The stage play has been adapted from the TV series, written by Jimmy Perry and David Croft, by Paul Carpenter and Ian Gower, retaining that magical 1950's holiday camp feel of the series which made it an iconic tv sitcom. Like many TV sitcoms that have been reproduced for the stage, like "Allo Allo", "Fawlty Towers" and "The Vicar Of Dibley", the adaptors have taken many of the scenarios from the TV version and segued them into something for the stage, with varying levels of success. In this case with great love and ease.

So what are the main storylines in the stage play?

Joe Maplin, the founder of the camp, announces that he is setting up a camp in the Bahamas. He needs female Yellowcoats to go and work there and the annual ‘Miss Yellowcoat’ competition will decide who is to go. Camp Cleaner Peggy Ollerenshaw is thrilled at the prospect of a vacancy for a new Yellowcoat and convinces Entertainments Manager, Jeffrey Fairbrother, that she is the ideal candidate for the job.

Ted Bovis, the senior camp comic is forced to employ numerous money-making schemes when his ex-wife arrives unexpectantly at the camp with a bailiff in tow, while Yvonne and Barry Hargreaves send the rumour mill into overdrive when they overhear Gladys Pugh escorting Jeffrey into his chalet late one night!

But of course, before all of this, we are welcomed by Gladys Pugh and the Yellowcoats providing us with safety information and theatre etiquette about mobile phones and no photography.

Martin Morgan (Mr Partridge) is suitably grumpy as the children's entertainer, and we get to hear Mr Partridge's entertainment history in an offshoot of the main plot. Just by seeing him shuffle on stage with those clothes and spectacles, you know straight away who he is, and that's even before we see the Punch and Judy puppets! This is Martin's debut play with Masque

Brian Brooks (Fred Quilley) plays the down trodden jockey, and a great foil for Martin as Mr Partridge. As with all the characters, he has some wonderful lines to deliver.

Elizabeth Wolden (Yvonne Stewart-Hargreaves) is lovely and aloof, and plays one half of my favourite snobby duos. I loved the section with the Wilson, Keppell and Betty sand dance routine and the fixed look of horror on Yvonne's face throughout.

Gary Richardson (Barry Stewart-Hargreaves) gets to play the opposite half of my favourite duo. I've had the pleasure of being in the same room for a one to one chat with THE Barry Howard, who in the TV show played Yvonne's dance partner, and it's uncanny the facial expressions and nuances Gary injects into the character. His walk, stance, eyebrow raise and comic delivery are all there. Barry Howard, who comes from Nottingham, would be proud to see this haughty pair alive on local stages again.

Thomas Slack (Spike Dixon) is another wonderful pairing as Spike, Ted Bovis' younger comic prodigy. For me, Thomas gradually morphed into Spike and by the end of the show had fully grown into his character along with the teacher and student chemistry that Ted and Spike had on TV.

Simon Brickell (Ted Bovis) really lived the crafty, wise cracking camp host with more pies than fingers to have fingers in pies. You could not mistake this character due to that chequered suit - and that brilliant wig - well I think it was a wig. The jokes also were also from the same box as the music, but I do enjoy a good cheesy joke, and there's a selection from the finest cheese platter here. So pleased that Simon ended the show with the full version of the "Hi De Hi" theme tune as well as "Goodnight Campers". What a way to close the show!

Linda Turner (Hilary Bovis), actually received hissing when she came on to take her bows, whcih showed me just how loved Ted is, even as a wideboy scoundrel. It also shows though that Linda had done such a good job as Hilary to provoke such reaction.

James Hallam (Bailiff) may only have had a small part, but an essential part of the story.

Andrew Wolden (Jeffrey Fairbrother) also directed this laugh out loud show. many highlights with this performance, but my favourite sections were when, as Jeffrey, he had to read out the letters from Joe Maplin, as written by Joe, in Jeffrey's University bred accent. Classic comedy.

Steve Ratcliffe (Mr Pritchard) plays the off duty police officer who has a serious crush on Gladys, who we all know is completely besotted with Jeffrey, but gets Gladys out of an embarrassing situation.

Louise Stupple (Gladys Pugh) must have watched every episode of "Hi De Hi" to get such perfection with that lilting Welsh accent, as well as every expression, stance and walk. I closed my eyes, just for a second or two to gauge the accurateness of that voice, and it was like having Ruth Madoc on stage. Wonderful mimicry.

Rosanna Hill (Peggy Ollerenshaw) is another brilliant mimic. From her first entrance, she received a round of applause; the audience loved her. Su is someone that I've also had the pleasure of her company and is one of those wonderful stars who forgot to let fame go to her head. A wonderful down to earth, scatty as hell, but with an amazing memory, and that is Peggy as well. Rosanna encapsulated everything about Peggy, and again, just shut your eyes for a second and Su Pollard could have been there, such was the accuracy that Rosanna delivered. She looked like Peggy, she moved like Peggy, she sounded like Peggy and her facial expressions were Peggy's as well.

As I said previously, I could see the amount of work that has been put in by all of the actors, to be as accurate in every way to match their TV characters they were portraying on stage.

The Yellow Coats are played by Brooke Spedding (Tracey Brentwood), Hannah Winterton (Betty Whistler), Jade Eaton (Dawn), Kelly Marsh (Sylvia Garnsey) and Ryan Kyte (Gary). And great fun they all were as well. Not to be outdone by the main characters, we, the audience, also got to vote for our favourite Yellowcoat to go to the Bahamas, in just one of a couple interactive sections with the show. They really made you feel involved, in exactly the same way as any holiday camp would do.

Thanks to the costumes, wigs and make up, every one of these actors actually look like the TV characters that they are supposed to be playing, so there is absolutely no mistaking any of these characters. A great job done by whoever was responsible for the costume, make up and wig team for Masque.

I'd love to credit the sound and light team, who did a brilliant job, but there were no credits for them in the programme. Whoever you were, thanks for a great sound and lighting job.

I've been a fan of "Hi De Hi" the sitcom for as long as I can remember, and still love to watch the repeats on TV, their comedy never ages, but that is Croft and Perry for you, masters at what they did. This show is a reminder of just how funny a script can be and what a character driven piece of TV comedy gold we still have.

I've also had the pleasure of having chatted and interviewed Su Pollard, Barry Howard and Paul Shane and they all expressed a love for their characters and the show, as well as the wonderful comedy scripts. Unfortunately Paul and Barry are no longer with us, and wouldn't it be a treat if Su, if she was not so busy being the down to earth local superstar she always has been, could get to see this production.

Don't you miss the opportunity to see this very funny piece of theatre, performed by an excellent cast. they look like they are having fun, and that is catching, believe me. And the two hours you're there flies by.

"Hi De Hi" will be at Mansfield Palace Theatre until Saturday 22 April, when they will be going out on a definite high de high!