BRICK Up has returned to the Royal Court in Liverpool - and what a cracking comedy comeback it is.

It was sheer joy to be in the audience with like-minded folk escaping the winter blues seeing some old friends shine on stage while joining in with the many explosions of laughter.

Granted, for ten years we have enjoyed the original musical play lapped up by packed houses.

So the follow-up reunites fans of the show with the surreal characters who were such a hit frst time around.

The cast may have changed in a few places but the spirit, sense of the absurd and the first-rate performances are all here. They are generous actors - individually and collectively.

In 2017, the characters are even more fleshed-out and our local stars clearly love the show as much as the loyal Merseyside following.

Eithne Browne's voice has never sounded better and her comedy technique is faultless.

It is quite a skill to make outrageous Ann Twacky likeable - you can laugh at her and laugh with her in equal measures.

Andrew Schofield as Dicky Lewis only has to walk on stage and he has the audience with him to the end.

Playing the dim-witted cowboy builder allows him to be at his expressive best and when he picks up the guitar he rocks on.

His song about Bin Laden is a catchy, melodic show-stopper.

Versatile Paul Duckworth continues his first-rate form as romantic lead Gerard Gardener.

His version of Take That's Want You Back For Good - like most of the cleverly-adapted musical numbers - is one of many highlights.

Musical maestro Howard Gray is top-notch again on Billy Meal's adaptable set.

Ace director Bob Eaton keeps the pace with some lovely spot-on touches throughout.

There is plenty of crude dialogue, but in the hands of such a talented cast it works effortlessly.

On the Court's own Can I Bring My Gran-0-Meter guide it suggests:

  • four points for swearing 
  • two for rudeness and one for nudity

... you get the picture.

Maggie, played by a sizzling Suzanne Collins, has some great comic lines switching from cafe maid to Posh Scouse who is engaged to the boo and hissable businessman Elliot Neston played by newcmner Danny Burns.

And Roy Brandon's Dennis Twankey is a changed man - the previous hen-pecked hubby to deluded mafia man and street scally - what a hilarious transfornation.

Ever-reliable Carl Case as gruff-but-bouncy Nick Walton brings back his famous Hammer horror laugh.

Francis Tucker as sex-mad Liz Card with Father Ted fetish has much more to do this time around and his seduction scene with Dicky is eye-wateringly funy.

Imagine Rising Damp meets Rik Mayall's Bottom.

This follow-up picks up where the first one ended.

The Kingsway Three are back as the Queensway queens!

The tunnels are blocked, the Runcorn Bridge is rubble and The Kingsway trio have cemeted their crazy mission. But now Wirral wants the upper hand.

Led by Mrs Twacky, daft and defiant Wirralians are rising up and calling for 'Birkenhexit.'

They simply don’t want the tunnels back and are prepared to go to extremes to keep them shut.

Esther McVey's ear must have been burning.

In fact there's plenty of name-dropping in the script from Joe Anderson to references to Liverpool and Wirral districts.

Fun is poked on either side of the river. it is a draw on the scathing put-down register.

Written by the successful, prolifc partnership of Nicky Allt and Dave Kirby this sparkling brand new production for 2017 does what it says on the poster.

It's a cartoon-esque show - like a Liverpool version of Looney Toons from a cast who give 100 per cent in the frenetic fun and frolics stakes.

That's all folks!

Entertainment Dynamite

Five stars

The show is on until February 25. 

Tickets from the box office on 0151 709 4321.