THE feel-good factor is sprinkled along with the fairy dust in Clwyd Theatr Cymru's brand new panto, Beauty And The Beast.

Director Peter Rowe and designer Judith Croft have turned on the 18th century storybook magic again and combined it with some sizzling versions of favourite rock 'n' roll numbers for an evening jam-packed with entertainment and fun.

And many of the "usual suspects" are welcomed back to Mold to perform it, including arguably Wales's favourite panto dame, the talented Phylip Harries, as Bronwen Bigbreaths (geddit?), and Wendy Parkin as Fairy Fortunate.

By the time Fairy Fortunate makes her first appearance through the trap door with a bang and a puff of smoke, to relate the plot in traditional rhyming couplets, others from the cast have set the mood by chatting to the audience. There's always a buzz on panto nights, and this year is no exception. My seven-year-old granddaughter Rebecca looks forward to the excitement of what has already become a family tradition that heralds the "start proper" of the Christmas season.

The story first takes us back in time to see how Prince Promising was cursed by a wicked witch - only the briefest appearance, sadly - and became the terrifyingly tragic Beast. Stephen Ashfield is blond and handsome as the Prince; shaggily dark in fur, horns and leather as the Beast, but with a powerful singing voice that carries him well through both sides of the character's personality. And the Beast's table manners, with plenty of wind at both ends, delight the kids in the audience.

Beauty, played by Tara Nelson, is one of the three daughters of Sir Peacock Beauregarde, a rich merchant. The others, Vanity and Luxury, are distraught when their marriage prospects are ruined by the family's loss of fortune, and they have to move to a farm. But a chance visit to the Beast's castle by their father means that Beauty has to go there as a hostage to fortune.

Tara Nelson is perfect as Beauty: pretty, graceful, with a super singing voice and a talent for acting, she captures everyone's hearts in her little blue gown and shimmering hooded cape. She's the fairytale heroine without a character flaw.

No wonder farmhand Desperate Dai falls for her. Dai is played with energy by local lad Daniel Lloyd, a sturdy Welsh Aled Jones lookalike.

Phylip Harries's Dame Bronwen Bigbreaths is, as always, the scene stealer, in outrageous costumes with breasts the size of footballs, and a ripe line in saucy gags and ad libs when things goes awry. He has the capacity of an old-time music hall star to connect with the audience.

Some of the songs are wonderful classics, embedded in the national memory over two or three generations: Crazy Horses, Let Me Entertain You, Hot Stuff, We Are Family and you Can't Hurry Love. But I must be getting old: there were several songs I didn't know, too.

Is anything lacking? In my view, a gold-plated villain for the hisses and boos to focus on. Beast is too tragic: we need an equivalent of a previous year's King Rat.

Oh, and Rebecca missed the chase through the audience. She loved it last time when the Wicked Witch sat heavily on her dad's knee.

But these are minor gripes: once again Clwyd Theatr Cymru have hit the panto jackpot.with a monster success.

The panto runs until January 27. The box office number is 0845 330 3565

Gail Cooper