The Chuckles of Oz, Darlington Civic Theatre

OZ is legendary as the great and powerful, but the yellow, brick road is full of more pitfalls than a Government promise on improving the A1. With arguably, the best two family entertainers in the UK in charge, linking a new script by Alan McHugh and new songs from Olly Ashmore (Somewhere Over The Rainbow etc isn’t park of this package) with The Chuckle Brothers unique brand of humour and you have a non-traditional treasure.

I’m slightly troubled by two bursts of 3D action where a range of nasty-looking animated creatures appear to threaten bespectacled onlookers. Fine for most, just a tad scary for the tiny tots making their first foray into pantoland. That said, the XL Video Ltd effort is pretty clever and adds to the adventures of Dorothy (Lauren Varnham), Cowardly Lion (Phil Corbitt), Scarecrow (Adam C Booth) and Tin Man (Danny Potts).

Emma Francis is a glorious green-skinned Wicked Witch, Darlington-based Beth Stobbart adds singing power to good witch Glinda and the town’s Joanne Banks Dancers get to play Munchkins at Christmas.

There is plenty of wizard wheezes as Paul and Barry unleash their sizable armoury of amusement on the audience, including the might of a super soaker reaching the theatre critics’ row this year. The Chuckles even have to turn a little evil as they admit being the voice and remote controllers of The Wizard, sending Dorothy and Co off to kill the witch. It’s definitely a rainbow alliance and one that’s going to give Darlington the chuckles all over Christmas.

Runs until January 11, Box Office: 01325-486555 or darlingtoncivic.co.uk

Viv Hardwick