THERE are two stars in this new touring show of the 1963 movie of the same that starred a young heart-throb called Cliff Richard.

The first is the red double-decker London Transport bus in which our hero Don and his gang of mechanics go on a magical mystery tour in a feel good, pre-Brexit Europe.

Along the way they are joined by an all-girl group and an American pop star dressed as a boy doing a runner from an over-bearing mom and her managerial partner Jerry.

The second is Liverpool's Ray Quinn and this production is the ideal 'vehicle' for this entertainer's multi-talented skills.

He can sing, dance, act - do anything and this is very much his show.

Ray dominates the two-hour production of Summer Holiday, directed and choreographed by Racky Plews which had sound issues on the opening night.

These will no doubt be oiled when the trek hits the road.

Bobby Crush is with the cast for the first eight venues playing the comic side-kick Jerry.

Showbiz veteran Bobby doesn't have the best of dialogue to work with but he clearly relishes the chance to play the keyboard at the end of the show.

There are few special effects and the stage designs leave a lot to the imagination.

The classic feel-good, toe-tapping songs provide the real highlights of this adapted musical including Bachelor Boy, Do You Wanna Dance, The Young Ones and I Could Easily Fall in Love with You.

A six-piece band supplies the music.

More than 20 songs go down well with the audience (some of the songs surprisingly not sung by Ray such as Move It).

But where better to kick off a lengthy UK tour than the Empire and a Liverpool audience who are always up for an impromptu sing-a-long session.

The rousing five-song finale and colourful dance sequence encore had people on their feet at the bus journey's end.

Nostalgic - three stars

The show is at the Liverpool Empire until tomorrow (Saturday, May 12). Tickets from 0844 8713017. 

It is on a tour that includes Chester Storyhouse from September 11-15. Tickets from 01244 409 113.