The Blues Brothers, said to be on its last ever tour, is one of those shows that doesn't need a star.

The songs more than make up for the lack of a big name.

It has been touring for years and has been a regular visitor to Brighton.

Inspired by the Dan Aykroyd/John Belushi film, it is a mad and manic two hours of rock, soul and blues music with hit following hit as the music and the laughs go on.

How the cast does it for eight shows a week for months at a time I do not know but they do it, we love it and the cash piles up.

Original director David Leland and choreographer Michael King obviously discovered a gold seam and it takes all the cast's energy to mine it.

Not only is it a music show, it features dance, dazzling lights and puts out more power than a large generator.

The current brothers are Mark Lawson (Elwood) and Brad Henshaw (Jake) and three excellent dancers and singers in the shapes of David Danns, Neil Wright and the fabulous Jennifer Wallace.

There's a great band with a tenor sax and trumpeter who are superb and the fun starts as soon as you enter the theatre where an incompetent and rude "stage crew" are getting the stage ready.

A hapless latecomer is invited to take a dusty chair on the stage but later metamorphoses into a nun - yes, the show is like that - and then the music begins.

Among the classics that hit you right between the eyes are Do You Love Me, Everybody Needs Somebody, Flip, Flop And Fly, Minnie The Moocher, Soul Man, Shotgun Blues, Sweet Home Chicago and a splendid slow version of Under The Boardwalk. All are delivered with great gusto and verve.

These Bluettes can dance and reel, jump and almost fly. They might have springs in their ankles but they certainly have swivel-hips and voices that just ooze soul.

Their finest number - and yet it shook the hell out of me - was when they introduced Rolf Harris as a soul legend, you have certainly never seen such a wonderful send up of his Two Little Boys.

And while Jake, the larger of the two brothers is a dab hand at it all, Elwood is no slouch even if he does do a version of the theme from Rawhide that makes you cringe.

Jailhouse Rock ends the show and, yes, you will be on your feet with hands so sore from applauding and ears deadened from the shouts and screams of the music.

From what is essentially a song concert, you get full value. Yup, The Blues Brothers are back in town.

For tickets, call 01273 328488.