TRADITION with a capital T. That’s what you get from a Huddersfield Light Opera Company pantomime.

Plus of course tip-top entertainment provided by a cast determined to harvest every last laugh from a show clearly written by a panto professional. For it was Alan Frayn’s well constructed script, the nearest thing you’ll get to a “how to do panto course”, that helped put us all in panto heaven.

Yes we booed the baddies, fell for the daftest and oldest of jokes, laughed ourselves silly at the slapstick, the singing rounds, audience participation and the deliciously dippy antics of a not so Simple Simon. But it was a cracking Light Opera Company team that pulled it all together, sprinkling this Beanstalk with the sort of magic to make it grow into a winner.

The cast was packed with talent, from the tiny tot dancers to a cast of principals bursting with confidence and energy, despite colds and snuffles sniffing round all the dressing-rooms.

Here was a panto that crackled with enthusiasm (and with a few first nights giggles when things went ever so slightly awry) but one that with a good first night behind it will grow into a monster hit.

In a cast packed with capable principals, there were a couple of classy baddies, Jayne Davison as a spicy, savvy Witch called Piccalilli and Dom Moccia making a meal out of her malodorous side-kick, Rancid the Ratman.

Luke Flacks and Martin Stead offered two snappy talents for the price of one pair of broker’s men, Snatchet and Scarper with some fun capers and nice attention to detail.

Rachel O’Hare turned in a confident and mature performance as the likeable Jack while Gemma Clarkson got to charm us as Princess Primrose.

Most of the night’s real funny business though was provided as ever by Neil Broadbent, here winning hearts as the irresistible Simple Simon.

His easy stage presence, whether in a song and dance routine with some of the show’s youngest dancers, or in an old style slapstick scene, carried the audience with him every step of the way .

Chris Brearley, who also produced the show, tottered in on skyscraper heels to produce a Dotty Dibble of a Dame dressed to kill and determined to thrill.

Apart from one youngster, clearly unnerved by the thunderous antics of the giant, this was a first night performance guaranteed to remind us all that for a real family treat, there’s little to beat a traditional pantomime - especially from the Light Opera on form.

The show’s assistant producer is Paul Bennett, the choreographer is Pam Strickland and Emma Binns is the musical director with Tim Collins on percussion. Performances continue all week.