THE Elgiva has plenty to be proud about with its latest panto offering, The Wizard of Oz, which opened to a full house last week.

Although more a family musical and not traditionally a pantomime, the collaboration between SSTTR and Newpalm Productions has resulted in an all-round entertaining show that really works. So while the plot more or less stays true to the original story, perhaps best known through the 1939 Hollywood musical starring Judy Garland, there are also all the elements of panto we know and love.

Enter plenty of "look behind you" moments, chocolate giveaways, dancing and singing among the audience, singalongs and even a life-size Toto the dog, alongside a familiar plot that sees Dorothy trying to find her way home from the mystical land of Oz.

The action is also sprinkled with clever special effects and a wide selection of songs, some more familiar than others, from the film version, as well as The Wiz and the more recent Wicked.

Bobbie Chatt in the principal role was simply superb. Her singing voice enraptured both the young and old, particularly with the classic Somewhere Over The Rainbow.

There were also brilliant performances from Linda Clark as the Wicked Witch of the West, whose speedy costume changes were perhaps as jaw-dropping as her very convincing evil cackle; as well as the supporting trio of Graham Boland, Chris Cambridge and Mark Hayden (The Scarecrow, Tin Man and Lion respectively). Special mention must also be made to the young dancers who never faltered throughout. If you want a panto with something different to offer, choose this one.