Betwixt! - TNT

The recently refurbished Kings Head seems to have unearthed a hotline to new musicals revolving round blocked writers struggling to produce their second bestseller. First came the charming opening show centring on the murder of a blockbuster novelist who couldn't produce a follow-up, and now Ian McFarlane's comic jaunt sends Bailey (another guy from the sticks who's moved to New York and can no longer put pen to paper) into the fantasy land of Taravatania. This daft bit of escapism follows Bailey and his uninvited flatmate Cooper through a mysterious miniature door and into a parallel world where the wicked Langwidere has turned Princess Ariella's parents into goldfish and kidnapped her princely fiancé. McFarlane (who also camps it up shamelessly as Cooper) has provided some nifty lyrics to go with his pastiche music, but it often feels as though the pantomime season has arrived early. Still, it's all performed with tremendous gusto — and if you've ever wondered what happened to the contestants who didn't win the role of Maria, here's your chance to catch Sound of Music reject Abigail Finley playing a disembodied head who finds her body as well as true love. Yup, it's that kind of show.
Kings Head Theatre, Upper Street, NI (0844-412 2953). Until June 22. £20- £25 (concessions available)