Maybe it's because the show has been going for more than 13 years but this musical, based on the life of the legendary Buddy Holly, seems to have lost its sparkle.

This is the story of the man who blasted country 'n' western off America's airwaves but, for the first half of the show, it seems this is rock 'n' roll with a goody two-shoes keeping the volume firmly set at mute.

The tale begins in an innocent land where mothers still make sure their blue-jean boys eat proper meals.

A 19-year-old Buddy (Guy MacGregor) forms a guitar band and rages against authority by stating he won't take his glasses off for anyone.

Eventually, Buddy wins over the old Southerners with their feet stuck firmly in the murky mud of country music and the smash-hit single That'll Be The Day catapults the band to Number 1 on both sides of the Atlantic.

By the interval, Buddy has even won over the "coloureds" in Harlem and things are getting pretty lively with the front row clapping like a row of crazed seals.

Then, after a string of hits, the big guy gets a wife who gets fractious with Buddy's band, The Crickets, and, as seems to happen if you play the "devil's music", one of them develops a liking for liquor.

But there's little time for plot with so many songs to fit in and the show comes into its own when the mirrorballs begins to spin, a jazz band starts smoking and a veritable Stars In Their Eyes contest takes place as Ritchie Valens, The Big Bopper and Buddy Holly recreate the last night of Buddy's life while a brave few audience members start to dance in the aisles.

The evening ends with Gus singing American Pie as a tribute to Buddy Holly on the 44th anniversary of the day the music died. It's all quite moving.

Oh, go on then, maybe nostalgia isn't just for your nan.

For tickets, call 01273 328488.

Review by Olivia Edward, features@theargus.co.uk