Charm and fun in Essex musical

"Roll on up, see the main attraction, get your money ready, let's take a ride," former teen idol David Essex tells his charmed audience.

The thick, curly black hair of his chart-topping days is no more (a fact he makes light of) but the silver-haired star was still the main attraction last night.

The gravelly-voiced pin-up's songs are the backbone of this new musical.

Set around an old-fashioned fairground in the late 1970s, the show sees Essex in the role of owner Levi, who is burdened with guilt over the death of his wife.

He tries to keep his son on the straight and narrow but Jack (Paul-Ryan Carberry) has other ideas, hooking up with rich girl Alice (Lara Denning) and jilting put-upon Mary (Emma Thornett).

Essex is supported by a strong cast – when not smashing things up and being involved in other thuggery, gang boss Harvey (David Burrows) and his sidekick "Dirty Harry" Druid (Barry Bloxham) can sing and dance with the best of them.

The clever stage sets include dodgem cars, merry-go-round horses and motorbikes in this rollercoaster of a production.

There is a final showdown but not before we've enjoyed most of Essex's hits, including Hold Me Close and Gonna Make You A Star.

All The Fun Of The Fair runs until Saturday.

By Karen Knowles.