CLASS plays a big part in current productions playing the Merseyside area.

Blood Brothers is wowing them at the Empire, Twopence to Cross the Mersey has opened at the Royal Court as part of a Northern tour and now Anne Dalton's award-winning musical Her Benny is at the Pavilion until Saturday.

A popular adaptation of the novel by Silas K. Hocking.

It is the tale of Nell and Benny Bates a couple of well-meaning street children forced to survive under the unfair rules of a less than caring, big society.

The delightful duo shine goodness despite their poor plight.

They have some loyal friends in nightwatch man Joe Wragg and his wife Sally.

There's Sniffer too and a kind little rich girl.

For two hours and forty minutes we are taken back to Victorian Liverpool.

There's some atmospheric scenery and costumes are splendid for every enthusiastic member of the huge cast.

There is plenty of sentimentality, humour and morality messages.

Oh, and heapings of song and dance.

Standout numbers including the much reprised Funny How Things Turn Out.

Johnny Kennedy's warm and magical portrayal of kindly Joe is a highlight.

His version of As long as I Believe is both stirring and soaring.

Young principals rotate the key roles.

On Wednesday's opening night there were polished performances from Oliver Davies as Benny and Lottie Wood as match girl Nell.

Lottie has had the theatre bug since she was two going on to study at the Wirral Theatre School of Dance.

Now 11, she is a talent to look out for.

Lauren Wood as Sniffer with her running nose gag is a well-rounded likeable character and a hit with the audience.

There are some solid comic moments from Bianca Pagan's Maisie the maid too. Great timing.

It is a very lively, energetic company where adults and youngsters gel together well through each scene in two accomplished acts.

Producer and director Anne Dalton should be proud of her theatrical team.

The set design team deserve special praise.

Her Benny is a show that has something for all ages.

ABD productions clearly relish the chance to perform again one of their own succes stories.

Four stars

The show is on until Saturday.

Tickets from the box office on 0151 666 0000.