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Inventive, fast-paced, a treat for eyes and ears. George Hummer reviews the pantomime..... Sinbad and the Diamond Princess at The Theatre sprang to life at its press performance fully formed and absolutely delightful. Back on traditional pantomime ground, the plot contains no message, and the script by Tony Bicat is lean and sharp, with meaty opportunities for the actors. Gary Bates as the Ancient Mariner speaks the prologue so clearly that small bodies in the audience instantly sit to attention, then Alice Redmond and Lisa Seddon as lost holiday reps give us a crisp introduction to the fun to come. Daniel Martin’s Sinbad is the boy with adventure in his blood, who has to be rescued from his bravery. Doing the rescuing is innocent, unworldly Princess Fatima, played by Liz Jadav. The cross (or crescent) that she has to bear is her wicked uncle, Ali bin Miser, played superbly by Royce Ullah, aided by Gary Bates as his yes-man Viz. But Ullah only just manages to steal the show from the glamorous Camilla the Camel, a flirtatious, dancing vision in poodle white and Barbara Cartland pink. Adam Russell-Owen as Mrs Sinbad struggles through a flatly written introductory scene, but when he is joined by Stan Pretty as Captain Spanker, the two old pro’s serve up a vintage double act. And through all the action, well rehearsed and directed by Caroline Sharman and full of their importance to the story, the Pippins (as always, too many to name) are the best we have seen in a long time. On a desert island lacking only seagulls, feathery blue waves frame the stage where townscapes and diamond mines, ships and even whales, metamorphose seamlessly. The music by Nick Bicat is a high-energy variety of songs furthering the plot both in lyrics and mood. As for the costumes by Tina Bicat, you can only call them a triumph of taste, where it is called for, and colour for the rest, and we haven’t seen better for several years. The audience shouted approval of Captain Spanker’s changes of costume, and every child has a right to be envious of the delightful array given to the Pippins. For the singalong, Peter Pontzen at the Yamaha strikes into a simple but energetic song that the two wandering reps work into a swelling chorus of fun. It’s a downhill charge from there to the gorgeously dressed walkdown, by way of a dizzying sequence of events. The best of these is the villain’s recantation, working the audience, flashing his eyes at us, finally regretting his wickedness. It’s better even than his rock number, which brings the house down.Inventive, fast-paced, a treat for eyes and ears, it’s a traditional Chipping Norton pantomime in immaculate form. BOX OFFICE : 01608 642350