"Puss In Boots" by Ravenshead Theatre Group.
Ravenshead Village Hall.

Written by Ben Crocker, who is a professional playwright and pantomime writer, and billed as "the purrfect pantomime", so who am I to disagree with this statement.

It's a traditional panto with a couple of topical nods, a great choice of music and, this afternoon, a very excitable and interactive audience.

The story is of two lovable buffoons, Jasper (Rob Hurst)and Jethro (Terry Cox), two miller's sons and their step-brother, Jack (Sarah Tryner), who we join on the reading of their father's will. Jasper and Jethro are left practically everything and Jack is left with a silver shilling and the family cat (Elizabeth Terry).

The Cat manages to spend their silver shilling on a bag with boots in, and as soon as the Cat puts these on, she gets the power to talk and grows to become Puss In Boots (Laura Stevenson).

This is also on the same day as Queen Wendy (Catherine Buckley) and King Wally (Adam Hague) arrive in town, penniless looking for a rich suitor for their daughter, Princess Esmerelda (Helen Berry).

Meanwhile the nasty Grimgrab The Ogre (Andy Cook),with the help of the bad fairy Pernicia (Julie Cox) have other ideas. With the help of Pernicia's good fairy sister, Priscilla (Lucy Johnson), Grimgrab's plan is thwarted.

This is such a beautifully presented and performed panto that you can't help but really get into the action from the very start.

Well Directed by Mandy Buckley and Ann-Marie Butler, there is a constant flow of action, making this a pacy show, ensuring the time flew by.

Some wonderful performances by Rob and Terry as the two simpletons looking for love with Babs (Sue Bishton) and Betty (Hazel O Connell), two local village girls, both ladies gave lovely character driven performances, matching Rob and Terry. Oh, and loved that wig, Terry.

Another wonderfully well cast pairing was in Sarah and Helen, who really looked like they were having a brilliant time on stage.

This panto is full of strong pairings and with the incredibly posh Queen and can't get a word in edgeways King, Catherine and Adam bounced off of each other so well. Almost like a panto version of "Keeping Up Appearances". Both great fun to watch and you could tell the audience were just waiting for King Wally to become more forceful, and when that happened the audience reacted.

Andy Cook, as the main badman was also well cast as he has the height and stature worked well for him as the Ogre. Julie, as always, is wonderful fun to watch on stage and extracted every last "booo" from the audience.

Keeping the action flowing and keeping us updated on what was happening was the Royal Page, Bobbie, played by John Birch.

This cast worked so well together and with the inclusion of some of the Youth Group that they have at Ravenshead, they gave some spotlight time for some very confident young actors.

The other cast members, because they all deserve their mention in this fun packed, purrfect, post Christmas panto are as follows

The Killer Rabbits, Mr Wigglenose (Jacques Hurst), Mr Fluffy (Caleb Ryde) and Mr CheekyCottonBottom (Fotis Manolas), complete with leather jackets and menacing looks.

Pat James (The Princess's Maid), plus the villagers, Courtiers, and Guards played by Phillipa Adamson, Rojin Altuntas, Oliver Glover, Jacques Hurst, Lucy Johnson, Fotis Manolas, Caleb Ryde, Jessica Street and James Terry.

The lighting is by Katie Peet and Laura Stevenson and the sound by Daniel Andrews. The costumes were brilliant, thanks to Lin Baggarley and Val Marland, and some brilliant make up by Catherine Buckley.

I've said it several times throughout, but this is such a fun, pacy show, and knowing some of this cast and technical crew, I know the level of hard work that has gone into this production, and that has all paid off with a brilliantly entertaining piece of theatre, suitable for everyone from the very young to the very young's parents and their parents, and beyond.

And can I also just mention the friendly Front of House and bar staff as well.

"Puss In Boots" is at Ravenshead Village Hall until Sunday 26 January.