THERE'S no place like the Theatre Royal!

Children and adults alike were boogie-ing to Frankie Valli disco number 'December '63 (Oh, What a Night)' as the curtain closed on St Helens Theatre Royal's fabulous half-term panto The Wizard of Oz.

Upbeat funky tracks punctuated this laugh-a-minute family show, with reprisals of Diana Ross' hit 'Ease on Down the Road' (from Broadway musical The Wiz) used in place of 'We're Off to See the Wizard' each time Dorothy picked up a new pal.

And actress Cheryl Fergison - who played Eastenders' Heather Trott for many years - belted out a wonderfully menacing version of Aretha Frankiln's 'Respect' as Wicked Witch of the West.

Cackle-tastic Fergison played the part to perfection, berating the audience and turning them against her with ease. 

Regal Entertainments' latest production of the classic tale - which featured a very well-behaved real dog Buddy playing Toto, is on twice daily until Sunday (October 30).

Full of energetic dance, fun story-telling, slapstick and bawdy humour, the action ticked along - providing two hours 20 minutes' value-for-money entertainment. 

Charlotte Gallagher played a delightful Dorothy - and hit all the right notes with 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow' - and theatre regulars Simon Foster and Liam Mellor charmed the audience as Lion and Scarecrow.

Phillip McGuiness put in a stand-out performance as a lovable wide-eyed Tinman, with some impressive robotic dance moves to boot.

Radio City's Claire Simmo as Glinda the Good Witch added a good sprinkling of fairy dust to proceedings.

The atmosphere was warm and jovial - and my two sons were not reticent in joining in with the boo-ing and other audience participation required of them. They shrieked with delight as Lion turned a waterblaster on the audience! 

An innovative Dorothy rescue scene - featuring Scarecrow, Tinman and Lion as they have never been seen before - brought the house down. 

Before the curtain opened, Wizard of Oz actor Richard Hazlewood set the scene with a magical rendition of 'Pure Imagination', bringing to mind the late Gene Wilder who made the song famous in the 1971 movie Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.

I would recommend a visit to this magical panto - which is on until Sunday, October 30 with shows at 1pm and 5pm - over the half-term.

Tickets cost £12 for adults, £11 for concessions, £10 for children, with family tickets at £42.

To book go to the box office in Corporation Street, call 756000 or log on to sthelenstheatreroyal.com.