'Allo' Allo ' at Poole (and listen very carefully - you may see this more than once)

Much loved sit-com 'Allo 'Allo lives again in this romp-along stage show which revisits one of the most popular TV comedies of the late 20th century.

It delivers exactly what the audience want - an instantly recognisable evening of catchphrase-laden knockabout laughter in the company of characters they regard as old friends.

The story, penned by original screenwriters David Croft and Jeremy Lloyd, is perfect.

Hapless French cafe owner René Artois is struggling to stay alive in German occupied World War II France.

Not easy. He is harbouring two British airmen in the cellar and a priceless piece of Nazi-plundered art is hidden in a giant sausage in his larder.

Meanwhile he’s juggling affairs with his waitresses while dodging both his battle-axe wife and the firing squad.

For fans of the '80s programme it’s comfortingly familiar stuff, wonderfully unreconstructed and stashed full of more double entendres than a shop full of seaside postcards.

This production finds René played by the ever-excellent Jeffrey Holland, a parade of characters straight off the telly and even original cast member Vicki Michelle reprising her role as saucy waitress Yvette.

It’s both fun and funny but I can’t help feeling that anyone unfamiliar with the TV show would spend rather too much time wondering what on earth was going on.

* 'Allo 'Allo plays Lighthouse in Poole until Saturday May 1.