Mark Senior

After years of fruitless speculation, the long overdue and hotly anticipated transfer of Broadway smash Hairspray has finally arrived in the Shaftsbury Theatre. And for a venue that has recently been plagued by a stream of short-run productions with poor box office success, what a blessing this must be. For surely here is a show that is set to run and run.

As Wicked in London approaches its first anniversary at the Apollo Victoria Theatre, it last night finally saw the arrival of the show's first all-British line up, with Dianne Pilkington, Oliver Tompsett and Andy Mace taking over the roles of Glinda, Fiyero and Dr Dillamond respectively.

Although originally entitled An Accident Waiting to Happen, this is a show that is anything but: from the first of a barrage of knee-slapping gags to the very last clichéd twist, if taken for what it is, The Drowsy Chaperone is a comic gem that doesn't disappoint