Cleo Camping Emmanuelle and Dick - Altrincham Garrick

IT takes a great deal of courage for any actor, amateur or professional, to play three much loved icons of British comedy.

They also need the talent and believe me, Mark Butt, Steven Finney and Dawn Flint certainly have it. In spades.

Finney is as scream as Kenneth Williams, the master of the double entendre in Terry Johnson’s heartfelt and heart warming love letter to that most British of institutions, the Carry On films.

This, for me, is the complete comic package, from the demeanour to that unmistakable nasal twang. Steven gets it just right.

Dawn Flint also delivers a fine performance as Barbara Windsor, complete with her cheeky, cockney giggle. Then there’s Mark Butt as Sid James, who really comes into his own when he’s highlighting the star’s loneliness and deep seated love for Babs.

The humour of the Carry On generation may be dated and unashamedly not PC but the stars of these sometimes saucy flicks had a mystique about them shared by very few of today’s so-called celebrities.

It’s brilliantly directed by Charlie Tomlinson, one of the Garrick’s leading talents both on and off the stage and designed with his trademark creativity by Barry Purves, whose clever set is dominated by Sid James’ caravan/passion wagon.

So, what’’s not to like?

If the early Christmas shopping and the impending election are starting to get you down, I have the perfect cure.

Highly recommended - a must see.

Until November 30. The box office is on 0161 928 1677. Star rating - *****