By Maura Bowman

THE LICKETYSPIT production of Molly Whuppie, this year’s Christmas offering at the Byre Theatre in St Andrews, is a rare beast indeed—a show that enchants adults, engages children and patronises no one.

Adapted from a tale by Virginia Radcliffe, who also directs, it is the story of a little girl who is prepared to take on a giant to win food for her starving village’s winter feast.

The staging is relatively simple, but endlessly inventive and, often, very funny.

Helen McAlpine brings real charm to her portrayal of the feisty child, while Ros Sydney manages to convince in roles as diverse as the giant, the king and Molly’s mother.

This is an ensemble affair in the best and widest sense, with Simon Wilkinson’s lighting design and musical director Tim Brinkhurst’s score playing an integral part in its success.

It would be hard to imagine the show without the sound effects and fiddling of Gavin Marwick (alternating with Jonny Hardy) and the other-worldly harp music of Mary Macmaster.

Like all shows aimed at children, there is a fair amount of audience participation in Molly Whuppie, but it does not have the air of forced jollity so common in theatres around the end of the year.

In fact, the opportunities to take part are so well integrated into the whole that even my bah-humbug eight-year-old (“I’m not doing all that look behind you stuff”) found himself joining in with a will.

Molly Whuppie runs until December 30.