Whatever the reasons for York Theatre Royal’s decision not to find space for NMTC over the next two years, the company’s morale clearly remains sky-high.

Its fizzing new Bev Jones production of Summer Holiday fits very snugly into the Joseph Rowntree and provides just the tonic to blow away winter’s icy blasts.

Originally a Cliff Richard film, released in 1963, Summer Holiday was only turned into a stage musical ten years ago.

Four London Transport mechanics, led by Don, upgrade a red double-decker so that they can drive to Athens for a holiday. They meet a female vocal trio, Do-Re-Mi, who have broken down in France.

A stowaway on the bus, dressed as a boy, turns out to be American superstar Barbara Winters, fleeing from her tyrannical mother (Stella) and publicity-mad agent (Jerry).

Surviving sabotage attempts by the vengeful mother, and intransigent foreign caricatures, they finally reach a beach. Don and Barbara’s up-and-down romance is the glue in the tale.

But it’s the music by Stanley Black and Ronald Cass, which includes several Cliff standards and ample dance routines, that really carries the show.

Lionel Bart’s earlier song, Living Doll, is also imported, with comic results.

Joe Wawryzniak plays Don (the Cliff role) with bags of assurance and a fine baritone smoothly projected.

But he sensibly tones down Cliff’s eternal kidult hyper-enthusiasm.

Danielle Irvine’s comely Barbara warms nicely into her first big romance, but when she leads with her chin her voice can be shrill.

Karin Day and Terry Ford make an hilarious pair as Stella and Jerry: his flower-power drag is memorable.

Craig Kirby is versatile in several cameos, notably as a lovelorn goatherd. Among a cast that dances its heart out to Christine Aspinall’s period choreography, Jenna Howlett, Abby Wells and Holly Wilson as Do-Re-Mi, along with Iain Harvey, Nathan Lodge and Ash Stilborn as Don’s sidekicks, all deserve special mention.

Bev Jones extracts typical flair from his eight-piece band, conducting from the keyboard.

With a couple of rock ’n’ roll knockouts either side of the interval, and minis and long legs flailing gracefully, one punter’s salad days came flooding back at Tuesday’s opening night. Nostalgia plus!

* Northern Musical Theatre Company (NMTC) in Summer Holiday; Joseph Rowntree Theatre, York until Saturday (including Saturday matinée). Box office (01904) 623568.