WEST Kirby Light Opera Society promises 'The Best of all Possible Shows' with it's next production.

It brings Leonard Bernstein's musical 'Candide' to the Floral Pavilion Theatre, New Brighton, from April 25-28.

A gold-painted wooden sheep, 60-strong cast and supporting orchestra join forces to follow the comic adventures of young and open-hearted hero Candide (played by Michael Kennedy), as he travels the world in search of his beloved Cunegonde (Denise Milne). His travels take him to Lisbon, Paris, Cadiz, Buenos Aires, Montevideo, a jungle, the fabled land of Eldorado and finally to Venice.

Candide's travelling companions include a pair of golden sheep, the most miserable man in the world and a woman with one buttock (Jean Taylor). This part has been played professionally by Birkenhead-born actress Patricia Routledge, among others.

Directed by Robert Bowness, with musical direction by Geoff Lavelle and choreography by Deborah Clark, the musical is based on a novel by 18th century French philosopher Voltaire. Although it is a comedy and Candide finds himself in many tricky situations, Michael Kennedy told the Globe that the story has a deeper message: "It is this philosophy that everything is going to be for the best and the best of all possible worlds. So, the basic message is just get on with life, lead a simple life and enjoy everyday as it comes along."

Michael told the Globe that this will be the first time the show has been staged by an amateur company in Merseyside. An award-winning production was staged by the Royal National theatre in 1999. It appeared at the Liverpool Empire - as part of the Scottish Opera Company national tour - in 1988. Michael told the Globe that applying for performing rights to do the show is a long process: "It's quite an honour to be doing it, because we had to apply to Boosey and Hawkes to do the show. And before we could get a licence to do it, they had to send details of our company to America - to the Leonard Bernstein Foundation - who have the final say on companies who are allowed to do the show. So, it took about two and a half months to get the approval, but eventually they said "yes, we'll agree to West Kirby doing it." So we were making history, I suppose, to some extent, in this part of the world in actually doing it."

So, how has the current foot'n'mouth crisis affected the casting of the sheep? Michael said: "The sheep has clearly decided that being on the stage of the Floral Pavilion is the safest place to be at moment away from the fields."

Performances start at 7.30pm. Tickets, at £9 are available by ringing 342 2143.