THE announcement of a Twickenham Operatic Society musical is always exciting and this year’s choice 42nd Street was truly the song and dance extravaganza it promised to be.

The story is typically slight - Julian Marsh (Ian Stark) is putting on a show. His star is Dorothy Brock (Paulette Lythall) and the book is being written by Maggie Jones and Bert Barry (Fiona Stark and Stephen MacVicar).

Of course Julian assembles a grand chorus who throughout the show tap and hoof and whirl and put over all the ensemble numbers with enormous athleticism and panache.

Enter little Peggy Sawyer (Fay Brown), a country bumpkin who can sing a streak and dance with terrific dash - she has trouble getting into the chorus initially but when the star breaks an ankle it is she who is chosen to save the show There’s a little sub-plot about Dorothy Brock’s sugar daddy (Abner Dillon (Mark Giard) and her lover and former Vaudeville partner Pat Denning (Julian Marks).

The tingle factor as the show opens is delicious - the curtain rises only a few feet off the stage to show dozens of dancing feet for the opening number.

The whole is thing is satisfyingly visual - the costumes are quite simply marvellous - lots of little Thirties touches like tiny hats, bias cut fabrics, miles of satin for the girls, natty suits and fine evening clobber for the boys.

The set is very simple - a pair of staircases is moved in clever ways to indicate the rehearsal room or a smart hotel bar or even a railway station. Occasionally a little room set is wheeled on - but mostly it’s those stairs that do the business.

In one scene we have the most wonderful backdrop of skyscrapers which is stunning in its shine and glitter - and there are some good jokey touches. While singing ‘We’re in the Money’ the boys and girls dance on little diases, each decorated to look like a silver dollar.

There are a few truly great numbers - You’re Getting to be a Habit With Me’, ‘Lullaby of Broadway’ and of the marvellous ‘42nd Street’ itself to bowl us along.

Mandy Hodge as Ann Reilly and Peter Bevan as Billy Lawlor do a fine job as leads in Pretty Lady, the musical being presented, and indeed everyone puts heart into the business. The excellent orchestra in the improvised pit was in fine form and added enormously to the show. It continues at Richmond Theatre until Saturday.