FAMILIARITY can sometimes breed contempt. But it can also generate love, affection and treasured memories.

Those of us of a certain age will forever look back longingly on that much-loved TV sit com Allo, Allo! and think of the wonder years when television was actually entertaining rather than just a fly-on-the-wall reality peepshow!

So there was some danger when Thurrock Courts Players (who not so long ago successfully revived 'The Vicar of Dibley' on stage) opted to bring the stage version of Allo, Allo! to the Thameside. Why take a risk with a treasured memory that was just about as good as it gets?

Well, the simple is answer, is because they can. And they do.

This is a delightful tribute to a comedy great of TV and stage and well-played all concerned.

The 18 member cast and the off-stage team manage to turn the Thameside into a little part of occupied France and they take few risks, plunging headfirst into the calamitous and complicated world of René Artois and, while the script may offer guaranteed laughter, it's still a challenge to pull it off (Sausage-related double entendre fully intended).

In line with the historic tradition that goes back to 1971, it's no surprise that Courts deliver again. There were one of two rough edges, but that's always going to be the case on opening night and all were forgivable – not least because of the warmth, love, enjoyment and sense of togetherness coming off the stage to the audience.

At the heart of the show is, of course, René. And Ian Benson is simply superb. From the first moment to the last, he is the epitome of what René should be. It helps that there is a similarity in appearance between Ian and Gorden Kaye who first created the part, but Ian's ability and timing of gut-creasing comedic lines and inuendo is first class.

Christina Ashford is an excellent (and singingly-screeching) harridan of a wife. A perfect Edith.

The show's sex-symbols, Michelle and Mimi are gloriously and teasingly portrayed by Torie Grayling and Cody Gray, and resistance leader Yvette flits in and out with her 'I'll say this only once' line repeatedly delivered with acumen by Lauren Jones. Harry Doyle's a delightfully dotty LeClerc.

The Germans are all campishly played out by Jim Wilkinson (Col von Strom), Josh Handley (Herr Flick), Luke Coldham (Lieut Gruber), the devilishly delectable Ann-Marie Patterson (Helga) and a rather severe Wayne Prince as General von Schmelling. I'll never get Wayne's portrayal of John Major in the award-winning 'The Audience' out of my head, but strangely it fitted right in here! Michael Southgate is brilliant as Capt Bertorelli.

Knitted through the production are the effortlessly delivered (but I am sure difficult to remember) and deliciously droll mispronunciations of Officer Crabtree – well done indood to Martyn Williams.

The supporting cast of Sophie Nash, Lilly Edmeades, George Andelon, Dawn Peat and Vic Gray (who deserves his own plaudits as director) fill out the show and add depth to the delivery on a very small, but superbly imagined and created stage setting.

Sitting here writing this review after the night before made this a very, very good moaning!

Vic Gray's post opening night message: