This year's Bermuda Musical and Dramatic Society (BMDS) pantomime, 'Robin Hood', provides an evening of great laughs and music.

Strangely though, it doesn't provide very much Robin Hood.

Written and directed by Jonathan Owen, it is an extremely entertaining show, which is both bright and fun enough for children and has more than enough mature material to entertain their parents.

The show begins with Robin living as an outlaw after the evil Sheriff of Nottingham, played by Kelvin Hastings-Smith, has framed him for the murder of his father.

Robin gathers a group of merry men and sets out to avenge his father's death while winning the hand of his love, Maid Marian.

Despite the title however, Robin Hood and Maid Marian, played by Gareth Lewis and Melanie Henderson respectively, have relatively little stage time.

Both prove to be solid actors and terrific singers, but the script seems to work under the assumption that the audience already knows the story.

However, this doesn't really prove to be a problem because what is on stage works extremely well.

The real stars of the show are the Sheriff and Tilly Tonsils, the traditionally outlandish Dame played fabulously by Gavin Wilson.

The pair bounce skilfully between double entendres and political jabs, leaving the audience in hysterics.

For Tilly, simply appearing on stage, each time in a different elaborate costume, was enough to bring the audience to tears.

They are joined at centre stage by Geoff Yeomans, playing Daft Dave, and 'Oribble 'Orace, played by Alan Brooks.

The experienced pair work well as a thick witted duo of con men, providing ample slapstick comedy, particularly when teamed with the Dame, the Sheriff, or Connie Dey, playing the Sheriff's hunchback lackey, Guy of Gisbourne.

BMDS veteran Carol Burch, who herself has written and directed several of the annual pantomimes, turns in another terrific performance as a prose-speaking fairy throughout the show.

Madeleine Rose and Rian Michelson, playing the Sheriff's unfortunate niece and nephew, both appeared to be naturals on stage, and tremendously talented singers.

Of the Merry Men, Marvin Ford, playing Alan a Dale, is given the most opportunity to show his talents for dance and singing.

His compatriots, the trio of Will Scarlet, Little John and Friar Tuck, played by Alex Brooks, Richard Hillen and Tristan Bowers, work well together, and each show a talent for physical comedy.

The music, under the musical direction of James Burn, ranged from pop classics, to tunes torn straight from movies and musicals.

While it did seem a bit strange to have Robin singing "Can't Stop the Beat" from the musical 'Hairspray', little things like the Pink Panther theme when Dave and 'Orace are sneaking around or the use of music from Star Wars during a climactic sword fight give the show real energy.

And it's impossible to talk about the music without making mention of Shirley Brown, who blew the audience away with her voice near the end of the first act during the show's biggest dance number.

The dance numbers, choreographed by Devaune Ratteray, all worked tremendously well, with both the chorus and the dance corps putting on impressive performances.

While there were a few minor hiccups throughout the night, it was obvious the entire cast was having a great time, and the fun is infectious.

• Robin Hood will be playing at Hamilton City Hall Theatre until December 12.

Showtimes are at 7.30 p.m., with Matinees on December 5, 6, and 12 at 3 p.m.

Tickets will be available one hour prior to performance and cost $30.