IF you're one of the people who thought Tommy Steele was dead, you should have heard the cheer that went up when he appeared on-stage at the Theatre Royal. In character as curmudgeonly old Scrooge, it was all he could do to suppress the famous cheeky grin in response.

This is a musical version by Leslie Bricusse of Charles Dickens' Christmas tale, and it's full of warmth and good humour. The songs are pleasant if not particularly memorable, and the strong cast includes some very talented and professional children.

Tommy Steele is just as engaging as he always was; even when Ebenezer is at his meanest, suggesting the poor would be better off dead, Tommy's real personality is bubbling underneath.

The ghosts are impressive, especially the monstrously menacing Christmas Yet to Come; shame they didn't whisk his wire frame away quickly enough. The scariest moment is when Ebenezer comes back into his bedroom thinking Jacob Marley's appearance is a dream, and the ghost is hiding behind the door! Squeals from the youngsters in the audience.

Tommy Steele has been an entertainer for nearly 50 years, and there's no substitute for that kind of experience. He had the audience with him from the moment he stepped onstage, and the tumultuous applause at the end had him good-humouredly shouting at the punters to "Go 'ome!"

The Christmas spirit is alive and well at the Theatre Royal; after such a feelgood evening it was quite a shock to emerge into a rainy October night.

Until Saturday, November 8. Box Office: 0870 905 5060

Sue Heath. Published: 30/10/2003