White Christmas, Dominion Theatre - review: Strictly winner Tom Chambers stars in this Bing Crosby film adaptation

If you loathe the song — and the sentiment contained therein — then this really isn’t the show for you.

Adapted from the classic 1954 Michael Curtiz film, which memorably starred Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye and, above all, the indestructible songs of Irving Berlin, it’s an avalanche of festive goodwill.

Or, at least, it should be, as this affable production struggles to achieve such monumental proportions.

Aled Jones and former Strictly winner Tom Chambers take the lead roles of Bob Wallace and Phil Davis, two former army buddies turned light entertainment stars. Jones and Chambers are not the most natural pairing and their relationship is one of four in Morgan Young’s production — the leading ladies, sisters Betty (Rachel Stanley) and Judy (Louise Bowden), inevitably couple up with the guys — that is likeable without oozing chemistry.

Anyway, on with the feelgood-ery. Bob and Phil learn that the Vermont ski lodge belonging to their former army general is in dire financial straits and so they decide, as good musical theatre folk always will, to do the show right there. (I wasn’t convinced by the ticketing policy for this lodge-saving concert: who was actually meant to be buying?)

Cue a number of impressive, extended, unashamedly old-fashioned song and dance numbers, although my favourite came on the train journey to Vermont when a whole carriage of people swaddled in woollies hymned the delights of snow.

The songs — Sisters, Blue Skies and so on — are a perpetual delight, even if the narrative momentum gets stranded offstage for too-lengthy periods while the boys’ show is rehearsed.

Ultimately and somewhat disappointingly, though, White Christmas left me with lukewarm cockles and a half-melted heart.

Until Jan 3 (0845 200 7982, whitechristmasmusical.co.uk)

Going Out Tickets; Buy tickets to White Christmas here