The show must go on — and oh yes, there will be candy.

So promise the organisers of The Pied Piper, BMDS’ first post-Christmas pantomime.

The show was postponed after Hurricane Gonzalo damaged the rafters at City Hall last October.

It’s now set to kick off on January 22 at the Ruth Seaton James Auditorium — BMDS is keeping its fingers crossed that people will still come.

Pantomimes are traditionally held before Christmas.

“The challenge is convincing people that a Christmas pantomime can be just as enjoyable in January,” said producer Jo Shane.

“We have deleted all references to Christmas. One of the characters is now called Gonzalo (after Hurricane Gonzalo) and he is a bit of a baddie.”

Retired lawyer Kelvin Hastings-Smith is the show’s director. He moved to Suffolk, England in 2012, having played the dame in the pantomime for many years.

He returned to Bermuda for rehearsals in October, shortly before two hurricanes struck in the span of a week.

“I thought I’d just be back in Bermuda in October and November, but here I am back again,” he said. “Let’s just say the pantomime is going to bring some sunshine to an otherwise dreary January.”

Ms Shane said the number one question on everyone’s lips is, “Will there be candy?”. At most pantomimes candy is showered on the audience at some point in the performance. Because the auditorium can seat more people than its normal venue City Hall, there will be six performances instead of the usual 12.

“We need to fill it up,” said Mr Hastings. “Yes, yes, there will be lots of candy.”

The Pied Piper was written by British playwright Doreen Moger. The story is about a German town, Hamlyn, plagued by rats. The town hires a rat catcher, the Pied Piper, to get rid of them. When he’s done, the town refuses to pay him, so he makes all the children disappear.

“Of course, because this is a pantomime, it may have a happy ending,” said Mr Hastings-Smith, coyly. “You have to come to the performance to find out.”

Paul Harney plays the Pied Piper.

“Paul makes a great baddie,” said Ms Shane, “but he is very worried that little children won’t like him after this performance.”

“Phillip Jones will be the dame,” said Mr Hastings-Smith. “He says he learned from the master, ie me. He has been the dame in one other pantomime. Cathal Rynne, 17, a student at Saltus Grammar School, plays the male love interest. He has an amazing voice. When he came to the auditions and sang for us we were blown away. It was no contest for Kelly Gilmour as Rosalyn, the female love interest. I think she should realistically be singing in some smoky jazz club, because she has an absolutely beautiful voice.”

Tickets are $35 each and available from www.bmds.bm. The show runs from January 22 to 25 at 7pm every night except Saturday and Sunday which will have 2.30pm matinee performances.