The annual pantomime, traditional harbinger of Christmas, is upon us yet again with a production that ranks among the best seen here in years.

This is largely due to the expertise of London director Jane McCulloch whose interpretation of the pantomimic idiom -- a seamless melding of story, music and dance -- injects some real charm, and even poignancy into the proceedings, along with, of course, the requisite slapstick humour, corny jokes and audience `sing-alongs'.

Her vision is obviously at one with her musical director, James Burn, whose bright and jaunty musical approach is fleshed out with a fine selection of popular songs. Most importantly, both avoid the amateur trap of bogging down in a welter of excess (endless ballads, endless chucking of cream pies, endless rows of kids cavorting about in what loosely passes as the `ballet' sequence). As it is, this production positively sparkles, with songs that actually move the plot along at a cracking pace. And, all the while, McCulloch's benign, if taut control of all these diverse theatrical elements, leaves the audience -- unusally -- wanting more.

This time around, the well-worn format centres round the mediaeval legend of Dick Whittington, the poor country boy who found fortune and everlasting fame as Lord Mayor of London. The city setting, within sound of the Bow Bells that famously beckoned the young hero back to town when he was about to give up on his quest, provides a cheerfully Cockney theme, epitomised in the opening number's gusty rendition of `The Lambeth Walk'.

On the whole, the cast rises to the occasion, although, on Saturday evening, some lines were, at times, still a little shaky.

Mark Hamilton brings an easy charm and pleasant tenor voice to the title role of Dick, and is well matched with Stephanie Butler, a fine soprano, who makes a very believable Alice. It is interesting to note that McCulloch has ignored the UK custom of using a girl for `principal boy', a ploy which, in this case, reinforces the idea that a real and tender love story is threading its way through all the tomfoolery.

Ian Birch teams up with Geoff Yeomans to provide the comic angle -- and a formidable pair they are, with Birch playing the Dame (Pansy), decked out in wondrously vulgar gowns, and Yeomans bringing a whiff of the Yorkshire moors to old London Town. His performance is a sheer delight; whether's he's leading a sing-along (to the tune of `A Barrel of Money') or sweeping the audience along on a wave of slapstick and jokes delivered with the kind of delight that makes the groaniest of puns seem genuinely funny, he is always in comic but firm command.

Carol Birch and Leo Mills turn in good performances as the romantically inclined servants, while Phil Taylor and Gareth Mohony hold sway, respectively, as Alice's regal father and her foppish suitor.

The Bermudian element is evoked when Dick goes off to find his fortune on tropic isles. These are `the Boko and Bermuda Islands' reigned over by none other than Ed Christopher who, against an exotic throne bedecked with peacock feathers and pink flamingos, leads a rousing, maracas-shaking version of "Mama Will Provide''.

It is, however, Kelsey Bacon who, as Sukie the Cat, all but steals the show.

This young schoolgirl brings a rare and exciting quality to a role that is mimed and danced with exquisite grace throughout. Besides a promising dance technique (her appropriately named `pas de chats' are beautifully executed) that already shows an exquisite sense of line and crisp elevation, she has a stage presence that is genuinely enchanting: a performance of very great promise.

Although no-one is credited on the programme with the set designs, these have been gorgeously realised by Elmer Midgett and Michelle Pasquin. The scene on board the `Chauncey M De Puke' is perhaps the most memorable, as the ship rolls through billowing "waves'' that are alive with leaping fish.

Bermuda is incredibly fortunate to have been able to lure here, a director of Jane McCulloch's stature. In British and American circles, her name is a revered one. As founder and artistic director of the English Chamber Theatre (her friend Dame Judi Dench is president) she attracts a succession of top stars who clamour to appear in her productions. Almost all of these are written by her, for McCulloch is also a gifted playwright. Bermuda Festival audiences will remember her biographical dramas on Beethoven and Roosevelt and Churchill.

Not least of all, she has reminded us that pantomime, embracing as it does, just all about all the elements of theatre, provides children with a unique introduction to that magical world. Happily, that's just what she's achieved with this hugely enjoyable production.

PATRICIA CALNAN TRUE LOVE -- Alice (Stephanie Butler) and Dick Whittington (Mark Hamilton) rehearse a love duet in a scene from the BMDS pantomime `Dick Whittington and his Cat', now showing at the City Hall Theatre.

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