YOU can’t get much more traditional than this Aladdin with its principal boy, a man playing dame, dancing girls and a villain bathed in green light. It is also one of the classiest-looking productions around.

It is headlined by Syd Little, now working as a solo act away from old partner Eddie Large, and he gets a new Large in the not inconsiderable shape of Lisa Riley who played Mandy Dingle in Emmerdale. Both work off their cotton socks.

Syd is Supersonic, the Genie of the Ring, an incompetent sprite wearing what looks like a pumpkin on his head.

It is largely a character part with the humour coming from the situations rather than any smart dialogue.

He plays a ukulele (briefly), sings, dances a little and generally enters the spirit of things with a broad grin and an energy belying his 64 years.

Lisa Riley, meanwhile, beefs up the Empress of China role by getting in on most of the action, even taking over Widow Twankey’s laundry shop. She plays it at full tilt, often with a husky voice as she spots a choice man, grabs her skirt and goes after him.

Matching her pound for pound is the large and jolly John Cooper, a Liverpool radio presenter who is a surprisingly excellent dame. With the usual array of outrageous costumes and a very funny stage swagger, Cooper all buts eats the scenery.

Christina Featherstone is a likeable Aladdin in a principal boy role and, like her love interest Princess Yasmin (played by Filipa Jeronimo), sings well in that belting panto-style delivery. Paul Parris is all cheeky fun as Wishee Washee and Christopher Hollinshead menaces as Abanazar.

As a pantomime, it has plenty of colour, good sets, fine costumes and lots of music. At times, it feels almost like watching a musical with a never-ending collection of songs from the principals and lively dance routines from the girls young and old of the Formby School of Dancing and Performing Arts.

The audience gets to yell out, the traditional ghost routine is there and there is even a snake that steals the washing.

All good fun and even a topical note when the dame says: “You know why I’m here.”

“Because they could not afford Biggins,” comes the rib-tickling reply.

PHILIP KEY