Tony Blair was recently reported to be considering the establishment of parenting classes "to teach people how to sing nursery rhymes to their children". And what, you may ask, has that to do with this year's Chippy panto? Well, Mr Blair can forget the parenting classes, because Mother Goose is stuffed (if you will pardon the unfortunate expression) with nursery rhymes.

There are traditional nursery rhymes, set to jaunty tunes by Chippy's stalwart musical director, Peter Pontzen. And there are allusions to nursery rhymes too: "How do you make someone from Banbury Cross?" Why, "You tell them you come from Chipping Norton," of course.

But, alas, nursery rhymes and jolly songs do not solve every problem. Mother Goose needs money, for she is seriously behind with the rent on her picturesque cottage (designer Simon Higlett has once again excelled himself with his colourful sets). Luckily landlord Squire Goodheart (Stan Pretty, suitably tweedy and red of the complexion) is quite keen on his tenant: "Your mother's a cracker," he informs her son Simon (Simon McCoy). "Are you saying you want to pull my mother at Christmas?" replies Simon, quick as a flash.

Money is needed, too, for two weddings: Simon is in love with Mary (Allie Croker), the Squire's daughter, and Jill Goose (Charlotte Thompson) has eyes only for Jack (Adam Lea). Could the Squire be persuaded to overlook the matter of the missing rent, and pay for the weddings? No chance, once Demon Discontent (Andrew Piper) hisses his way on to the stage: "I'll turn their happiness into hell," he snarls. Alas, the Squire fails to appreciate that a Demon who dresses in the deepest black, or bursts out in vivid red, cannot be up to any good - especially a Demon who regales his quaking victims with a song entitled Hissy Fit.

Will Priscilla the Goose and Fairy Fulfilment save the day? There's a good chance. Priscilla (Danielle Gardner), whose beak clatters fetchingly, and whose eyelashes flutter enchantingly, duly lays a plentiful supply of golden eggs. And Fairy Fulfilment (Elizabeth Rowden) has a robust sense of humour and a cheerful grin that could melt the hardest heart. There is indeed every hope that all will end happily for the distinctly lithe and lively Mother Goose (Dudley Rogers).

For the second year running, director Caroline Sharman and scriptwriter Simon Brett have hit the ground running with this sparkling, fast-moving, and snappily performed show. And, of course, my wholehearted recommendation has nothing whatever to do with the fact that, for the first time ever, all three of us in my party caught a traditional Chippy throwaway sweet.

Mother Goose continues at The Theatre, Chipping Norton, until Saturday, January 6. Box office: 01608 642350.