With glorious glass panels looking out towards the Clyde in the background, as fishing boats and tugboats occasionally passed by, it seemed only fitting that this sell-out show at The Beacon Arts Centre in Greenock was 'chust sublime'.

These words of course are not mine, but belong to Para Handy himself, although that is a fair reflection on the re-incarnated show for 21st century audiences, which pays homage to times past. With the performance taking place in front of this glorious Clyde scene, and theatre-goers enjoying a fish supper before it started, the whole slick event from start to finish was very much a celebration of life at the sea. It was only apt that I took my fisherman dad to the show!

Celebrating the famous tales of Neil Munro in a 1930s wireless style with three actors taking the microphones, while inter-changing between a range of different characters, it is a clever concept, and very fast moving.

Para Handy was played by Stewart Phillips, while Largs' very own Calum McVittie played an assortment of characters including Sunny Jim, Dougie the Mate, and a series of supporting characters from schoolboy Alick Campbell to even a widowed lady with affections for Para Handy to hilarious effect.

Kevin Jannetts, who adapted, produced and directed the play, is also involved in some speedy costume changes as McPhail, MacIntyre the Joiner, and even the Fortune Teller during another hysterical escapade for Para Handy and his crew. The original wireless scripts were written by Gordon Neish, the editor of the Dunoon Observer.

Kevin also features as the very 'Home Counties' voice of the narrator in the wireless production which provides a fascinating contrast to the west of Scotland dialect so familiar in Neil Munro's famous characters as they get up to all sorts of hi-jinks.

There is little doubting that the much loved characters of Para-Handy tales have returned to the high seas with a flourish in this delightful, imaginative and laughter-filled production which has already been performed at various venues on the west coast of Scotland including Ye Old Anchor Inn in Largs.

"One more Hoot and you're oot!" shouts McPhail, breaking ranks, in reference to Para Handy's new found love for a whistle on the famous boat as its pulled up at harbour.

At this point, near the end of the show, there was little doubting that Para Handy had been a 'hoot' from start to finish.

The wireless style of production returns to The Beacon later this year with 'Dracula' in October, and 'It's a Wonderful Life' before Christmas. For more details, go to beaconartscentre.co.uk