As has been often observed, The All New Original Tribute to the Blues Brothers is not so much the “smash hit musical” that it’s styled but really a two-hour concert. It’s no less a smash hit for that, though, with some of the greatest music of the pop era performed with huge gusto and technical expertise. It is for some, too, a chance to dress up, with audience members stepping out in the dark shades and pork pie hats forever associated with the iconic duo.

“This is a soul, blues and rhythm and blues revue,” states Brad Henshaw emphatically as he gleefully reprises the late John Belushi’s role as the legendary Jake Blues. None of that “country and western s***”, he instructs, no doubt mindful of the run-ins with the Good Ole Boys that provided much of the fun in the brothers’ celebrated 1980 screen outing.

But Elwood Blues (Daniel Fletcher), clearly possessing a strong rebellious streak, leads the company into a rousing rendition of Tammy Wynette’s Stand By Your Man. Poor Jake passes out in disgust and requires urgent attention with a defibrillator. Such larking about provides a warmly comic touch to the evening, as is seen again when deadpan bass player Zane Maertens ends up performing with a sink plunger gripping his shaved (or perhaps bald) pate.

But through all the dancing, somersaulting and general highjinks, musical standards remain impressively high. Best moments for me included a dynamic opening version of Otis Redding’s Can’t Turn You Loose, Elwood’s high-speed patter in Rubber Biscuit and his sensational Land of a Thousand Dances that closed Act I.

Great numbers in strutting Aretha Franklin/Tina Turner style are belted out by the three Bluettes, Jocasta Almgill, Alexus Ruth and Victoria Goddard, and there are scene-stealing moments from Luke Jasztal on Higher and Higher and Minnie the Moocher. Throughout, the accompanying band — and especially the brass trio — performs impeccably.

As one lucky enough to have seen the great Stax Tour of 1967, featuring Otis Redding at the head of a galaxy of stars, I can state that the level of excitement created at the Aylesbury Waterside Theatre this week is only a degree or two lower.

Continues until Saturday. Tickets: www.ambassadortickets.com/aylesbury or 01844 8716707.