Kids Christmas: Beauty and the Beast at the Tivoli

Beauty and The Beast Tivoli, Dublin ****

It seems the Cheerios Panto can never say goodbye: the husband-and-husband team of writer Karl Broderick and star Alan Hughes have been steering the Tivoli's pantomime for nearly 20 years, but instead of becoming creaky, it still feels as fresh as today's milk, and the action and dialogue as smooth as butter.

The tale might change every year, but Hughes keeps it constant in his recurring role of Sammy Sausages. As well as holding the show together, Sammy acts as the kids’ conscience, drumming up sympathy for the beleaguered heroine and whipping up boos for the baddie.

Michele McGrath plays Belle with minimum simpering and plenty of moxie, while Donal Brennan is just scary enough as the Beast to get the kids jumping in their seats, his growls given added force by soundman Vinny Osborne. Carl Stallwood as Belle’s vain fiance Garçon also gets the kids shouting “Oh no you’re not!” at every boast.

But it is Rob Murphy in the recurring role of Buffy who almost steals the show with his catchphrase "I swear on my hair" and a hilarious mini- Michael Flatley routine. Séamus Power from Fair City plays Belle's doting dad, and has no problem playing up to the Carrigstown references.

There are also plenty of references to current news stories, not all of them flying over the kids’ heads. A cameo from rain-soaked RTÉ reporter “Teresa Mannion”, warning us all not to take unnecessary journeys, goes down a storm.

As usual, the show ends with Buffy dragging the dads up on stage to demonstrate their bad dancing. It’s the simple things that make this panto a perennial family pleasure. Until Jan 10