The Royal Hippodrome’s summer show, There’s Magic In The Music, was bright and breezy as music through the ages was interspersed with magic tricks.

Trap Door Productions present a lot of local talent who pay tribute to various singing groups including The Andrews Sisters, The Beatles and Abba.

We are also treated to heartfelt renditions of Buddy Holly’s Raining In My Heart by Tom Hackett, Vera Lynn’s The White Cliffs Of Dover by Star Bray and The Carpenters’ Close To You by Laura Sivers, among others. All are engaging without managing a show-stopping performance.

Most of the humour comes from Grant Martins and comedy magician Richie Austin. As well as singing and dancing, Martins provides plenty of banter with the audience.

Austin comes up with two great illusions that cause his female assistant to disappear, but spends too long setting up some tricks that lacked sufficient impact. What the show needs is an additional speciality act, ideally a comedian or an impersonator.

Most of the young chorus show verve and vigour in some sparkling dance routines by Debbie Hackett.