Musical magic existed in the 1960s, even before the Beatles, and it is revisited to our delight in the hit musical Save the Last Dance for Me.

The title song is famously from the prolific writing duet of Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman whose impressive body of work supplies the backbone to this excellent show.

Among them are numbers forever associated with Elvis Presley, including Suspicion, Viva Las Vegas and Marie’s the Name (His Latest Flame).

This being a jukebox musical in which songs drive forward the plot, there is naturally a character called Marie.

She’s a 17-year-old Luton lass, played by Elizabeth Carter, who with older and more savvy sister Jennifer (Lola Saunders of X-Factor fame) enjoys the sort of summer holiday most folk were saddled with in 1963.

Happily, the girls’ week in a rain-lashed caravan in Lowestoft has its happier side owing to the presence nearby of a camp-load of United States Air Force men.

Marie falls for one in the shape of Curtis (Wayne Robinson), the main singer in the funky base band. That he is black involves an element of complication in those long-ago times.

In truth, the on-off nature of their relationship becomes a tad trying as the two-hour show progresses.

Its creators, the gifted TV writers Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran, score better where comedy is concerned.

Some derives from Jennifer’s link with Italian/Brummie ice cream salesman Carlo (Alan Howell), still more from the confusions arising between English and American culture, the latter best illustrated in the drolleries of cocksure Milton, played by Antony Costa, one of the founders of the band Blue.

Director Bill Kenwright and his team ensure crisp, polished good-looking action, with the band – most of whom multi-task as characters - kicking up a storm in the glorious musical numbers.

Until Saturday. 0844 871 3020, atgtickets.com/Oxford

Christopher Gray 4/5