Always reliable for a feast of festive fun, Oxford Playhouse delivers all we could wish for in a colourful – joyfully musical – production of Cinderella.

Like last year’s Aladdin, the show is written and directed by Steve Marmion who brings a number of twists to the much-loved tale.

But don’t worry – the traditional story is still there to beguile all members of the audience whatever their age.

Our Cinders still gets to the ball, still gets the Prince and still goes on – we sincerely hope – to live happily ever after.

Truth to tell, such a feisty lass is presented by Rochelle Rose that one never fears any other outcome.

Here is no waif sentenced to drudgery but a woman more than able to stand up to her Wicked Stepmother (Julia Innocenti) and her odious daughters (Joseph Alessi and Stephen Ventura).

One rather wonders whether she really requires a Fairy Godmother (Lorna Gayle), although the magic she supplies is necessary in the matter of arranging transport to the ball.

One departure from the traditional comes in the absence of any romantic link between Cinders and the devoted Buttons (Matt Ralph).

This is understandable in the circumstances for this Buttons is actually a rather large mouse.

This leads to some scratchy confrontations with the prince’s factotum Dandini (Lucy McCormick) who is here transformed into a cat. Peace is eventually restored, though, in conciliatory moves entirely in keeping with the Christmas spirit.

Being feline, there is naturally a bit of a problem when Dandini comes to swap togs with his master.

Our splendidly chinless wonder Prince Charming (Max Olesker) realises the full comic potential from his strutting in a skin-tight catsuit.

Later, he is revealed as a belting vocalist, wowing the ballgoers with a medley of Prince hits, sensationally arranged by musical director Zara Nunn.

With her in the pit are percussionist Felix Higginbottom and Dan Ezard on bass, powering the musical content of this good-looking show (designer Liz Cooke). It’s on till January 8. Don’t miss. 01865 305305, oxfordplayhouse.com. 4/5