IT MAY be virtually impossible to over-act in pantomime – and the same goes for the instinctive, virtually inbred, response of a young audience, many of whom are experiencing their first theatrical sortie beyond the school Nativity play.

So when Flesh Creep (ex-Eastenders’ Marc Bannerman) tries to kidnap some all-singing, all-dancing tiny tots for the giant's supper, there was no hesitation on the part of a lad in the stalls in yelling: “Get your hands off them, you big bully!” Is this infantile political correctness, or are kids nowadays a little less prepared for the time-honoured human rights abuses and prejudices of pantomime?

An obvious man in a collection of colourful frocks is no shocker.

Jamie Greer’s Dame Trott, guardian of both Jack (a dashing though vulnerable enough David Flynn) and his brother Silly Billy (credits-topper former Steps singer Ian “H” Watkins) defies the modern trend to turn such characters into screaming queen drag acts.

The best pantos operate on two levels: this adaptation by Liverpool’s Joe Standerline stretches to an amusing veiled reference to unplanned pregnancy, plus a bag of gold which turns out to be worthless beans, an ideal metaphor for the deeds of wretched bankers.

But it’s the genial pace and the general levity of the linking material which prevents any onset of tedium for set-pieces.

Very little stop-go “behind you!” routine; no “Oh ,yes it is” patter, and only one attempt at pie-chucking.

Instead, a water pistol soaking for the stalls and a slapstick scene with four-legged wonder Gertie the cow, in what is more in keeping with a well-paced song and dance show. Pity, however, that our star H – despite being best known as a pop star – doesn't feature sufficiently in the vocal line-up until the finale.

Paula Bell is the mother from hell as Queen Blunderbore, off-set by the sanguine presence of both Tara Wells as Jill and Tori Hargreaves as Fairy Starlight.

JOE RILEY