THE Palace has been holding a Christmas panto for more than 100 years and this year’s offering, Mother Goose, retains all the music hall charm of yore with a thoroughly modern twist.

The usual “in a land far, far away” setting has been swapped for something far closer to home, a town called Watfordia, complete with cinema showing Eggs Men and charity shop called Eggsfam.

It’s here that Mother Goose (Terence Frisch) lives with her son Billy (Robert Rees). Squire Dillydally (Donovan Blackwood) is after his rent-money and his cousin Milly (Jill McAusland) is being urged to join the family trade – but has a heart too big for the job, almost as big as her soft spot for Billy.

As the bills pile up, a reprieve is promised in the form of a familiar sounding talent competition run by truly villainous villain Beezlebub Baddegg (Philip Cox), dastardly disguised as pop impresario Simon Owl. Oh, yes it is!

Here, the show really came alive – the song selection had the school children swaying in their seats and singing along, and comedy turns by Squire Dillydally had them in hysterics. If a show’s success is judged on the volume of its audience alone, Watford Palace’s panto is a clear cut winner. Terence Frisch is outstanding as the Dame, as comfortable delivering witty one-liners as he is with slapstick.

Its message is of the dangers of vanity, the fleeting nature of fame and how family and friends should come before riches and personal gain – so it’s little wonder when television ‘fat-fixers’ you’ll certainly recognise get lampooned.

Fairy Twitter (Sheena Patel) brings sparkle to proceedings, plus jokes about tweeting, while Amy Drew gives an ethereal performance as the goose Priscilla.

There’s plenty of gags that will fly straight over the little ones’ heads and have mums and dads giggling, while the kids will be captivated by the unfolding tale.

With glitter, golden eggs, Duck Wan and Gangnam Style – the Palace panto is an all-singing, all-dancing belter of a show!