The well-known Hans Christian Andersen tale of the princess and the pea gets an adaptation in MADC’s pantomime this year.

Those who were impressed by last year’s cast and chorus will not be disappointed...

The Prince needs a princess, but which one is the real one?

Alan Montanaro will again slip into the Dame’s heeled shoes to regale audiences with his inimitable humour.

Bettina Paris is Principal Girl and Alexander Gatesy Lewis is the Prince looking for his true Princess.

Hans Christian Andersen’s classic tale is of a beautiful young girl who enters the palace one stormy night, claiming to be a true princess.

She must pass the test to prove her lineage and must spend a night on a bed covered by 20 mattresses and 20 featherbeds … with a little pea secretly placed at the bottom of the heap.

If this girl is indeed a princess, she would not be able to sleep a wink as she’d feel the pea through the many layers.

But this is where the similarities between the original fairy tale and the MADC panto end, because this year’s panto is a rollercoaster ride of laughs and japes; wonderfully over-the-top costumes and wigs, and beautifully-delivered songs and dances.

Of course, no pantomime would be complete without the nail biting, the goodies and the badies to keep the kids on their toes and this panto offers the best of it with its Fairy Godmother and henchmen.

Those who were impressed by last year’s cast and chorus will not be disappointed this year as all of them enjoyed the experience so much that they are back for more!

Paul Abela is music director and choreography is in the hands of Alison White. Stage manager Lino Mallia and his indomitable backstage crew are already hard at work preparing to transform MFCC at Ta’ Qali into the land of fairy tales.

Directed by Nanette Brimmer, performances run from December 22 through to January 8.

• Tickets may be obtained by phone on 7979 6232 or 9999 6232, e-mail: bookings@madc.biz or online www.madc.biz.