Although it is 10 years since the illustrious Simmons Brothers played their last pantomime together as Captain and Mate at the Birmingham Hippodrome, Keith Simmons is as prolific as ever. Partnered now by his son Ben, he has come up with a triple whammy at Weston-super-Mare this year - rhyming scriptwriter, director and Chinese policemen double act, as the splendidly named PC Me and Sergeant You.
Their presence alone ensures a maximum laughter quota - highlighted by their Olympic Games take on that old favourite If I Was Not Upon The Stage - and this is altogether a terrific pantomime, especially in the second half. There is a considerable bonus in having John Challis, an actor who has based his whole career on being a comic reprobate, making the most of his mocking humour and larger-than-life character as the nefarious Abanazar.
Jason Sutton and Terry Gleed handle the traditional comic business with aplomb as Widow Twankey and Wishee Washee. Far from traditional, though, is the Chinese Emperor of operatic tenor Paul Arden-Griffith, who brings the house down with a superb rendering of Nessun Dorma at the wedding of those two cool customers, Craig Daniel Adams in the title role and Cat Sandion as Princess Jasmine.