It's as American as a Presidential impeachment, but it has taken the British to turn Happy Days into a success on stage.

The nostalgic Seventies sitcom which, to judge from the opening night crowd in Bradford, is still beloved by just about everyone, is doing so well on its debut provincial tour that it's now likely to go to the West End and then on to America - which is like selling coals to Newcastle or, in this case, beer to Milwaukee.

It works wonderfully, even if the plot is more panto than sitcom.

A development company wants to knock down Arnold's drive-in, so it's down to Richie and the Fonz (played here by Stephen Dean and Craig Urbani) to try and save it. They do so by way of a dozen or more highly energetic song-and-dance numbers - all of them authentic tunes from the Fifties and Sixties.

The staging is innovative: the theatre audience is invited into the pretence that they are watching a recording of the TV show, and there's even a studio-like warm-up by the excellent Roger Kitter, in character as Howard Cunningham.

"Happy Days is filmed before a live audience," he announces - and the one last night was never more so.

Highlights include a superbly choreographed shower sequence. "I hope you've bought your lottery tickets," the Fonz said to the audience - but they mustn't have done, because the Velcro on the towels was doing its job rather well.

Not everything went as smoothly. A stubborn box of matches turned a schmaltzy romantic number involving Howard and Marion Cunningham into high comedy. They should write it in.

Happy Days is in Bradford until Saturday. Watch an old TV episode to put yourself in the mood, then book a seat at the Alhambra and, in the words of the Fonz - sit on it.

David Behrens

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.