A tribute to 'modern youf' REVIEWS.

Byline: BRYAN JONES

THE LITTLE MERMAID - Playbox Theatre, Warwick, until Saturday. Running time, 1hr 30min.

YOUNG people don't always get the credit they deserve. So often they are in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons.

Seeing the exceptionally gifted and disciplined youngsters who make up the Playbox Theatre Company goes a huge way towards redressing the balance.

At the moment the group is in the middle of an on-stage tribute to children's storyteller Hans Christian Andersen, to mark the 200th anniversary of his birth.

And in the tragic tale of The Little Mermaid - one of a trilogy of shows the company is currently performing - the remarkable talents of the group really shine.

The tale unfolds breathtakingly through the most imaginative combination of dance, drama, theatre-skills, mime and music you are likely to see.

The show was first performed in May 2003, but the new cast and the brilliant production team bring a wonderful freshness and life to a vibrant and dazzling piece.

I was there with my young family - and they were as entranced as I was.

Little Daisy - who's three and something of an aficionado of the Disney version of the story - burst into tears at the end when she realised we weren't able to rewind and replay the whole thing all over again.

I'm too old and miserable to blub - but I am more than happy to wholeheartedly recommend the show to anyone... especially those with a less than rosy view of 'modern youf'.