There wasn’t a straight face in the house at the opening performance of the Sgt Mess Pantomime Pirates of the Curried Beans last night (Tuesday) and that included the giggling cast.

You know a show’s gags are great when the actors can’t stop themselves from laughing, and the performance at the Astor Theatre certainly proved that.

Written and produced by Brian Short, it included a host of former Royal Marines and policemen who stepped up to the mark in the name of charity. They told the swash-buckling tale of the race to seize the last curried beans on the planet - mostly with well-timed gags and cheeky innuendo.

As you would expect from an opening night, the hiccups didn’t just come from the beer-swigging sailors. The flatulence came from...somewhere else. Indeed the prompt was over-worked at times, making the show hilariously funny in places that Mr Short hadn’t anticipated when writing the script. It’s a priceless touch you wouldn’t see at a professional panto, but one that shows audiences the personality of the performers - and that’s why it’s always a sell out.

"It shows the personality of the performers - and that’s why it’s always a sell out" - Beth Robson, reviewer

Highlights as always include the Monty Python-esque performance from Derek Lindars as Pirate Cpt Jack Daw. He portrayed an almost camp pirate that bore resemblances to The Life of Brian's Bigus Dickus. Absolutely classic.

As the US Captain Bud Weiser the Third, Bob Guest was perfectly cast and emulated the character so well he could have been confused with a method actor - if, of course, he could have prevented himself from chuckling at the gags!

Others that deserve mentions were the line perfect posh-chavs John Pring and David Hawks and stuffy Mike Brodie as Dick Splash RN.

But the firm favourite and definite crowd pleaser with their blonde wigs, handmade tutus and hob nail boots, was the Corpse Du Ballet. The troupe of 12 never fail to entertain, bringing in a well rehearsed up-beat interlude to the show.

Their burly pirouettes are made more hilarious by their overly painted faces and tattooed arms, their acrobatics and (especially for the women) their muscular calves in white tights...ooohhhh Aaarrrggghhhh!