Yule and the gang

THREE years ago another "backstage" musical had its European premiere at the Theatre Royal and enjoyed sell-out performances.

The score was by Irving Berlin, who was virtually synonymous with American popular music, having written over 1,500 songs including ballads, love songs, dance numbers and novelty tunes.

One of his most outstanding was White Christmas. Ever since he wrote it in 1942 it has been part of our seasonal celebrations. Bing Crosby's recording alone sold over 40 million copies.

It is now the title of a musical. First used in the film Holiday Inn in which Crosby starred with Fred Astaire, it resurfaced in the 1954 movie White Christmas which again starred Crosby, this time with Danny Kaye.

Other Berlin songs were drafted into the film, along with new ones written especially to boost the score, most memorable of which was the comedy number Sisters.

The plot of the stage musical, which follows its movie antecedents pretty closely, is set at a ski resort in Vermont.

Ex-army buddies Bob Wallace and Phil Davis, who are a song and dance double act, take a holiday at the resort, before opening their own revue on Broadway.

The resort is run by their much loved former commanding officer General Waverley.

But disaster threatens – there is no snow, and who wants to visit a ski resort that has no snow?

Bob and Phil come to the rescue. On television they invite their old buddies to join them at the resort on Christmas Eve for a preview of their show.

Not only does that fill every room, ensuring the General's financial salvation, but right on cue mother nature contributes a generous helping of snow!

There have been flimsier plots, but this one serves to showcase some of Berlin's greatest songs, like Blue Skies, How Deep Is The Ocean, and I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm.

Romance is well taken care of too, with the presence of the singing Haynes Sisters who of course pair up with Bob and Phil, and boosting the comedy element is the General's wisecracking housekeeper Martha.

Heading the 30 strong case as Bob is Aled Jones, familiar from TV and radio. Adam Cooper, the original lead swan in Matthew Bourne's all male Swan Lake (making a brief appearance in this role in the film Billy Elliot) plays Phil.

They are joined by Suzanne Shaw , and Roy Dotrice as the General.

There's a full backing ensemble and an orchestra of 17 instrumentalists, and the production offers enough spectacle, glamour and bonhomie to sweep audiences on to a joyful Christmas and beyond.

It runs at the Theatre Royal from November 10 to 21.