If last year’s Jack and the Beanstalk outing for the Birmingham Hippodrome was a bit of a manic cluster bomb that slightly underutilised some of its cast and didn’t quite live up to the ‘drome’s usual (admittedly stratospheric) standard, then all eyes were on this year’s Peter Pan, for this reviewer at least, to see if it could recapture that pixie dust of Brummie panto perfection.

The first move Michael Harrison and co get right is scooping up the return of national treasure – and bonafide Birmingham royalty – Alison Hammond. The This Morning and Bake Off host’s infectious, Earthy likability and proud local lilt was a perfect addition to last year’s lineup, and it’s undeniably great to have her back. The rapport she shares with honorary Brummie – and undisputed audience favourite – Matt Slack (returning this time round his eleventh consecutive outing at the Hippodrome), is palpable, genuine and buckets of fun.

But as magical a mermaid as Alison proves to be, and as terrific as it is to see Slack back on indefatigable, hilarious top form, Peter Pan flies because it is a much more rounded and satisfying piece of pantomime jugglery.

As is to now be expected, this is as lavish and opulent a feast for the eyes as you’ll see outside of the M25. The Hippodrome never fails to deliver a dazzling spectacle, and the piratey, Neverland trappings of Pan give designers Mark Walters, Ben Cracknell, Teresa Dalton and Mike Coltman a true nautical playground to go to town with. From flashing, zapping electric eels, ginormous animatronic reptilians to a cannon-inspired dame frock that would have even Julian Clary blushing, this is comfortably one of the most dazzling, visually arresting productions you could sink into this Christmas and New Year.

In fact, you’ll need to split some very fine hairs indeed to find pretty much anything here that’s anything less than grand. Harry Michaels and Slack himself have fashioned a hearty, hilarious panto offering that admirably starts out with a strong focus on the story of the boy who never grew up, before gradually folding the usual panto frolics and set pieces into the mix.

“…you’ll need to split some very fine hairs indeed to find pretty much anything here that’s anything less than grand.”

It feels a trifle cynical to get into the minutiae of structure in a pantomime, but there’s a far more even-handed balancing of all of Pan’s myriad, joyful elements this time round when compared with last year’s Beanstalk. Andrew Ryan’s wonderful Dame – this time one Mrs Sylvia Smee – gets to have far more fun this time round (after being relegated to a couple of mopey ballads last year), here vamping up a storm with some post-modern riffs to outright unabashedly camp mash-ups of Gaga and La Cage. As always, the frocks are to die for.

From a lagoon-inspired repurposing of Earth, Wind and Fire’s ‘Boogie Wonderland’ to returnee Danny Mac doing a sizzling job of reminding everyone that he’s got both the moves and vocals to match with a corker of a take on ‘Jailhouse Rock’, the big musical numbers are suitably show-stopping and infused with character and fun. And, naturally, there’s an abundance of funny, too, often masterfully conducted by the maestro of mischief, Slack himself.

There’s an ingenious skit of map-themed puns, the customary free-for-all of ‘A Sailor Went To Sea’ as Hammond, Slack, Mac and Ryan engage in increasingly chaotic slapstick shenanigans and, perhaps most hilarious of all, a truly masterful impressionistic take on The Proclaimers that is up there with the funniest and most impressive of bits that Slack has delivered in his impressive, eleven-year tenure.

It’s all great, funny fare, and an impressive cast and ensemble put in the legwork to keep the energy levels high and the laughs coming thick and fast. Noah Harrison makes for a great Peter Pan, impish and boyishly charming, the kids in particular will love him as a young hero to root for. Danny Mac, meanwhile, is inspired, shrewdly playing his villainous Captain Hook completely nefarious and almost entirely straight… though not without a few cheeky jabs of self-deprecation at how seriously he is taking it all.

“…a terrific spot of panto villainy, and one that makes his aforementioned big musical moment all the more disarming.”

It’s a terrific spot of panto villainy, and one that makes his aforementioned big musical moment all the more disarming. Hammond is once again a delight, and when you have Matt Slack at his best as he is here then there are few, if any, in the industry that can match him.

Reclaiming its heritage as one of the finest pantos in all of the (Never Never) land, the Hippodrome has a treasure trove of real 24-carat booty on its hands – and hooks – with Peter Pan. With a touching nod to the venue’s recent 125th birthday, Hammond, Slack and Mac are a magical, winning combo in a dream of a panto that, in all the best ways will make you feel like you never grew up, either.

Chart a course for the second star to the right, and be prepared to be giggling straight through until morning!