Nothing else will do. Cruella De Vil wants a coat made out of Dalmatian fur. How convenient, then, that neighbours Mr and Mrs Dearly (Mike Goodenough and Emma Thornett) have a Dalmatian which has produced a fine litter of puppies. Cruella comes round to inspect the goods: "Ugh, they look like revolting little white pigs," says she, unaware that Dalmatians take time to grow their spots.

Dodie Smith's novel has been turned into two successful Disney films, but how on earth do you transfer it to the Royal's small stage? Would it be incredibly naff, or treacly and twee? Neither, as it turns out: director Dani Parr and adapter Debbie Isitt have delivered an affectionate piece of storytelling, which is enhanced by lots of expressive barking from parent Dalmatians Missis and Pongo (Krissi Bohn and James Daniel Wilson), and their fleet of puppies (three alternating teams of local schoolchildren). So good is the movement direction (Anna Morrissey) that you really do think that there is a full compliment of puppies, even though there are actually only 30 on stage.

The dastardly Cruella De Vil (Georgina Roberts, pictured) starts a little slowly, at first calling everybody "Darling" in the insincere tones of a theatrical luvvy, so younger audience members do not at first realise that she is a wolf in disguise. But once she employs a pair of low-life, incompetent criminals (Tom Edden and Mike Goodenough, an excellent double act) to dognap the puppies, the message comes across loud and clear, and the theatre erupts in a chorus of boos.

From then on, the audience is fully engaged as the puppies escape from their captivity in Hell Hall with Cruella in hot pursuit. By the end, as Cruella totters down some stairs in her high heels to take her curtain call, I'll bet that every single member of the audience is hoping that she will fall flat on her beaky nose.

101 Dalmatians continues at Royal & Derngate, Northampton, until January 6. Tickets: 01604 624811 (www.royalandderngate.co.uk).