Santa Claus the Musical

Published Thursday 13 December 2007 at 12:30 by Pat Ashworth

You simply can’t go wrong with skating polar bears, comic penguins and a line of life-size cuddly reindeer in their stalls, all with different regional accents and one with a bad case of flatulence. Add softly falling snow and a child at prayer in plaits and pyjamas, and this show must have one of the biggest Christmas “ah!” factors in the world.

It is spectacular and exuberant, with a crazy performance from Anita Dobson as the gibbering Ice Queen, a prototype fairy to whom Santa forgot to give a heart. Roy Barraclough’s dignified, formal Santa is a delight, especially in his chaste relationship with the efficient Ms Drift (Kim Ismay), which just might have gone somewhere when they were younger.

Joanne Farrell’s Mrs Johnston has a lovely Fifties film-star aura about her, and an integrity matched by the child playing her daughter, Anna, on this occasion. Ten-year old Kierra Battersby gives a clear, assured and uncloying performance. Russ Spencer is the chirpy chief elf Joe, the answer to her Christmas prayer and her mother’s dream.

A stunning scarlet-and-gold finale, lively dancing and a ten-piece orchestra to do justice to numbers like When You Believe in Miracles. For what more could you ask?