WHEN your ears start ringing, and you are at the stage when you almost can't hear yourself think for the screams of delight, you know you are on a winner.
Jack and The Beanstalk, Imagine Theatre's first pantomime in Inverness, is just that, a surefire winner that had the younger members of the audience screaming with joy and bouncing like jumping beans having been wound up by the baddie, Fleshcreep, played for laughs by Connor McAllister.
The classic fairytale of Jack Trott's valiant struggle to defeat the wicked giant who makes life tough for the Merrydale villagers, has had new life breathed into it with a fresh, lively look and fast-paced sketches, all served with a healthy dollop of laughter.
The laughs come thick and fast via Iain Lauchlan, the show's writer and director and the chap behind the Tweenies, who plays Dame Trott and her youngest son, Simple Simon, played by Karl Woolley, the show's assistant director.
The duo have worked together numerous times before and it shows – the two bounce gags off each like it's the most natural thing in the world.
Audience participation features highly and pre-show, people can nominate a man in their life to take part in a messy sketch which sees Dame Trott and Simon have a bash at making their own version of an Inverness favourite, local baker Harry Gow's dream ring cakes.
On Friday night, the “victim” was none other than former Dons footballer Brian Irvine, who even when splattered with cream, revealed he had lost none of the star quality he showed on the pitch at Pittodrie.
With outrageous costumes, superb dancers, new songs, an amazing beanstalk and the cutest cow in pantoland, and a sprinkling of local references, this panto has it all, but there's more.
The scenes with the giant are stunning, but to say any more would spoil the surprise for those yet to see this festive, magical show.
The show runs at Eden Court Theatre until Sunday, January 10.