You either love it or loathe it - but for devotees, it's habit-forming.

The Sound Of Music has found a new generation of fans thanks to the sing-a-long formula where the audience dresses up, provides the backing vocals and adds its own sound effects.

The Theatre Royal was packed with fallen nuns, yodelling goat-herders, leather-clad Nazis and girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes.

MC for the evening was Candy (von) Floss - nice legs, shame about the jokes, which were as old as the Alps.

The real laughs were the good-natured heckles from the audience: As Maria sets off for her new position as the Von Trapp's governess, she sings: "What's wrong with me?" and a voice called: "It's that hat!"

We booed at the Nazis, "aaahed" every time little Gretel said anything and pulled our party poppers when the Captain finally planted a smacker on his governess.

Rows of men in lederhosen waved sprigs of edelweiss and there was the distant sound of blubbing when the Captain sang his farewell to Austria.

I've seen this production before at the same venue and it was a riot. This show was a little lacklustre by comparison. Maybe because it was a Monday night.

Nun-the-less, for those who worship the Von Trapps, it was a blessed evening. Until next time, so long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, adieu.