It’s nearly March and we’re still getting panto. Well, sort of panto – more like the cold, corporate, Disney-fied product that is children’s theatre. Pick a fairytale, get some famous writers (“the guys from Friends? Perfect!”), buy a bunch of superfluous Day-Glo merchandise and job’s a good’un right? Thankfully, Immersion Theatre’s production of Rapunzel has the good grace to give us some good theatre on top of all that, and although the whole production seems a little factory-made, it has an entertaining charm that elevates it into the higher bracket of half-term hilarity.

Yes, Marta Kauffman and David Crane, they who gave you Rachel, Ross and chums, are the scribes and lyricists at work here. It’s a decent enough story, which doesn’t stray too far from all the “Rapunzel Rapunzel, let down your hair!” business. Our long-locked protagonist (Rebecca Ayres) has been long locked in a tower, courtesy of her ‘Mother’, The Witch (Jo Wickham). On her sixteenth birthday, who should crash through Rapunzel’s window but the seriously unheroic Prince Brian (Luke Francis), much to the chagrin of her keeper. All sorts of adventures are let loose as a now-blinded Brian tries to take Rapunzel home to his kingdom. Kauffman and Crane pepper the plot with little nuggets of the humour they write so well – a particularly funny scene involves Rapunzel trying to buy a carriage and coming away with a mop. They’re also surprisingly good at the old song lyrics, and Michael Skloff’s score is a pleasing mix of technically challenging singing and hummable melodies.

The lively four-strong cast help to keep children and parents entertained throughout the show. It’s so refreshing to see previously stereotyped characters being given a bit of depth, even in children’s theatre. Ayres and Francis make for very affable leads, even if the latter is trying that bit too hard to be funny. Wickham is terribly demonstrative for our pleasure, but we also sympathise with this Witch when she is scorned, making the whole ‘villain’ angle in this production a fairly unique one. Daniel Dawes as the pseudo-narrator and everyone else, via lots of Monty Python-esque characterisations, is such a treat. His best creation is manservant Simon, whose discovery that perhaps the Witch isn’t all that bad, is the most wonderful part of the show – funny and sweet.

Technically this show is built to tour, and it’s evident. In many ways, Greenwich Theatre is far too large for this production and it feels as though it would suit a more intimate locale. The set is very simple, and director James Tobias can’t find enough ways for his cast to use it effectively, meaning everyone looks a little lost on stage. The sound quality also isn’t great, and either microphones are too low for the songs or actors need to sing louder. In a room full of restless children, you really have to strain to hear all of Kauffman and Crane’s lyrics. The corporate monster does threaten to raise its ugly head at times – it is fine for the toddlers to have their picture taken with Rapunzel after the show, but it is at a cost of uploading said pictures to Twitter and Instagram. Whatever sells, I guess, but I got out of there sharpish.

Moreover, will your children enjoy this show? Yes, but so will you. There is enough here to keep the kiddies satisfied and engaged, whilst adults can enjoy the witty wordplay and byplay between the characters. Rapunzel is a little creaky round the edges, but this doesn’t detract from the sheer entertainment value provided by the excellent cast. Families will leave with a spring in their step and a song in their heart.

Dress Rehearsal played at the Greenwich Theatre until 21 February. For more information visit the Immersion Theatre website. Photo: Immersion Theatre