Oxford Playhouse The sight of happy crowds of grinning children spilling out into Beaumont Street tells a familiar Christmas story -- panto time is back at the Oxford Playhouse.

When it comes to staging a traditional family pantomime the Playhouse takes some beating.

And this year's show Puss in Boots certainly looks like being the cream of the crop, with youngsters lapping up a great evening of festive fun with Puss Y Catto and friends.

Don't be fooled by the prospect of its exotic Spanish setting and an evil ogre who bears more than a passing resemblance to Count Dracula, this is panto as it should be -- full of energy, spectacle and, most importantly of all, a cast who look like they're having a ball.

There's no room here for out-of-work television Gladiators or ex-Page Three girls, only an experienced cast who know how to have children howling with laughter at the hilarious progress of miller's son Pablo (Rupert Ward Lewis) who gets the girl, the palace and, of course, the top cat in town.

Kate Tydman, who makes a glamorous princess, made her professional stage debut in panto at the Playhouse, before getting solid feline training in the London cast of Cats.

She, like Aimee Thomas, who makes a delightfully energetic Puss, has a fine singing voice and the music is one of the brilliant features of this production.

One definite highlight is a hilariously ghoulish rendition of Bohemian Rhapsody, confirming my long-held suspicion that the Freddie Mercury song was always more panto than rock.

Russell Dixon, a fine classical actor, throws his weight as a suitably outrageous Queen Leftfeeta, more than a match for David Delve's wickedly funny El Ogre.

Puss in Boots will run at the Playhouse until January 12.

Don't take down your Christmas decorations until you've seen it. In fact get along before you put them up.

Director Michele Hardy and Paul Knight, who has written many of the Playhouse's impressive run of pantomimes, have conjured up another magical Christmas show.

REG LITTLE