With a role as iconic as happy-go-lucky Holly Golightly, Pixie Lott had very large designer shoes to fill.

Played so memorably by Audrey Hepburn in the 1961 film version of Breakfast at Tiffany's, comparisons are inevitable.

Blonde, husky and more accustomed to singing upbeat, sugary pop than the likes of gentle classic Moon River, Hepburn she most definitely isn't.

But she brought her own unique charm to the role when Richard Greenberg's stage adaptation of Truman Capote's novella arrived at the Marlowe Theatre this week.

Well-known for hits including Mama Do and All About Tonight, as well as star turns on Strictly Come Dancing and The X Factor, the 25-year-old is already an accomplished performer.

But can she act too? Well, as it turns out, yes. Lott lights up the stage like a Tiffany's diamond, and you find your eye drawn to her in every scene.

She's full of energy, positivity and charm, shrieking "dahling" at every opportunity, but her free-spirited nature hides a vulnerability which emerges as her less-than-glamorous past is revealed.

The sets are simple - Manhattan skyline, a sparsely-decorated Upper East Side apartment - but the excitement of 1940s New York is conveyed through raucous party scenes, outrageous characters and fabulous costumes.

There are many comedy moments, mainly thanks to Holly's razor sharp wit and warmth. But the biggest laugh of the night was achieved by the only non-human cast member.

Cat, Holly's unnamed feline companion, made a run for the audience before scampering across the stage and presumably into the arms of a panicked handler.

Holly's greatest admirer and the play's narrator "Fred" is capably played by stage stalwart Matt Barber, probably best known for his role as Downton Abbey's Atticus Aldridge.

With a bellowing, thick American accent, Barber's Fred is more confident, bolshy and even conceited than George Peppard's softly-spoken and more likeable take on the character.

Another major difference between the film and the play is the ending, which - without spoiling it - dampens the romantic aspect of this most famous romcom.

My advice is try not to let your memory of the film colour your view of the play - the latter of which is actually more true to Capote's story.

Breakfast at Tiffany's is at the Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury until Saturday, March 19. For tickets from £21, call 01227 787787 or go to marlowetheatre.com