IT was with great enthusiasm and energy that the Cwmbran Woodland Players burst onto the stage with their first musical in three years - the rip roaring 1920’s tale of Thoroughly Modern Millie.

Leoni Jai Hamilton was expertly cast as Millie Dillmount, a Kansas girl who heads to New York with a head full of dreams.

She coped well with the demanding role, which showcased the strong range of her voice.

She was ably supported by a talented cast including Jon Parry, as Jimmy Smith, Rhiannon Cadwell, as Miss Dorothy Brown and Lyn House, as Trevor Graydon.

But perhaps the show stealers were Sue Dewar as the evil Mrs Meers and her sidekicks brothers Ching Ho, Robert Comben, and Bun Foo, Christopher Harris, and there were some great comedy moments with them bundling off the orphaned guests of Hotel Priscilla into the white slave trade. Great use was made of the Chinese subtitles to get laughs.

Musical numbers were very entertaining with excellent choreography particularly ‘The Speed Test’ and ‘Long As I’m Here With You’.

All in all this was an enjoyable show, which was only slightly detracted from by the frequent scene changes that interrupted the pace and tempo of the performance.

Thoroughly Modern Millie can be seen at the Congress Theatre until tomorrow.