Spike Milligan's Badjelly the Witch at Silo Theatre

I liked the trouser robbers and Dullboot the Giant because they were really, really funny. Dullboot has pants that were ripped on the bottom and he had really cool hair, says Nate.

I didn't like Badjelly because of her tricks and because she was a bit scary. My favourite bits were the shark going to shark's nose hospital with the doctors and the sun coming out from behind the house.

The sun was made of cardboard and so was everything else. Even Jim the Eagle but he was so big you could only see his feet. I think I would tell my friends about it 'cos I think they would laugh.

Today, after the show, I'm being Dinglemouse. No, I'm Dinglenate. No, no, I've got a magic pocket with a light switch in it.

Shannon says: I have really fond memories of listening to the Spike Milligan original on my transistor radio while tucked up in bed, so I wondered if the Silo version could match my childhood memories.

I need not have worried as Alannah O'Sullivan's adaptation takes all the charm of the original and fleshes it out for the stage. And director Ben Crowder and his cast bring alive the ridiculous silliness of Milligan's absurd sense of humour.

In the lead roles, Scott Cotter and Mia Blake are suitably sweet as Tim and Rose without being too cloying. Madeleine Sami is just scary enough as a Badjelly and uses the right amount of humour to make sure that the littlies don't get too frightened. Fasitua Amosa is a lovely smiling sun and a very dull witted Dullboot (and yes, you do see a bare bottom of sorts when he gets sent away to bare-bottom-land).

Most enjoyable are the supporting cast of Nikki Bennett, Jackie Van Beek and Brett O'Gorman, who take on all the other roles. Nikki is especially loveable as the feisty Dinglemouse.

They work their socks off juggling their multiple characters and associated costume changes, not to mention the silly gags and numerous special effects. Designer John Verryt has gone all out with an intricate cardboard set that is like an adult sized pop-up book. The storybook landscape is full of surprises, including Binklebonk's moving tree and a fast moving river for Mudwiggle. The special effects include excellent puppets which help to bring alive the final chase scene with Badjelly.

Elizabeth Whiting's costumes also have a storybook feel with primary bright colours.

They will please Milligan enthusiasts with their loving recreation of key motifs. Badjelly has stripy tights and suitably broomstick scrubby hair, Binklebonk's hat has its sausage sewn on top and Mudwiggle's hat has a piece of cheese, in case he meets any hungry mice.

Unlike other children's shows this one sticks close to the childlike fun of the original and there is no social commentary or knowing adult humour, unless you count a nice cameo from John Campbell who lends his "maaahvellous" booming tones to the voice of God and the narrator.

Seeing the show prompted me to revisit the original and the next morning I borrowed my nephew Nate's CD. Listening to it, I felt strangely let down and even though it feels like the betrayal of a cherished childhood memory, I think the Silo's Badjelly is funnier and more enjoyable than the original.

* Spike Milligan's Badjelly the Witch runs until July 23 at the Silo Theatre.