Sea World’s annual Christmas pantomime combines a dramatic and musical content with performances by the dolphins, seals and penguins. Titled Carols and Dolphins by Candlelight, the show runs until December 19 daily at 19h30.

It’s a tricky business to design such a show as any human perfomer can only hope to come off second best next to the endearing and lovable dolphins and their astounding and powerful acrobatic feats. Gabby Harris, who has written and produced Carols and Dolphins by Candlelight has focused too much on a fairly convoluted story requiring complicated and time-consuming costume changes and a fair amount of singing. The result is that the show becomes overlong for small children.

Having said that, Carols and Dolphins by Candlelight is good family fare and is a not-to-be missed opportunity to see some of the world’s finest performing dolphins at work. The audience is hooked from the moment Sea World’s oldest resident, the much-loved Gambit, makes his appearance. Estimated to be about 27 years old, Gambit can still show the youngsters a thing or two as his powerful 500kg frame leaps high above the pool. Frodo, who came to Sea World three years after Gambit in 1979, was not in the show as she has a small calf. However, she has made a major contribution: “She trains all the other dolphins,” says one of the trainers. “She’s the best trainer here – makes our life much easier!”

The other dolphins in the show were born at Sea World and the particularly charming female trio (Tobi, Khanya and Affrika) perform with much gusto and vigorous nodding. The stirring closing number sees four male dolphins (Kelpie, Vukani, Jula and Khwezi) leaping in pairs across the pool. One of the most successful items was performed to Pie Jesu and saw trainer Charmaine van der Elst performing a series of complicated movements in the pool with Jula who eventually threw her in the air with his powerful snout. The close relationship between trainer and dolphin was a heartwarming sight.

Briefly, the accompanying storyline involves a cellphone-toting mother with young boy in tow, a tall socialite concerned with fashion and a mysterious magician who become aware of the threat to marine life through their exposure to the dolphins. Along the way, they meet silver-clad creatures with fluttering antennae – and one with very impressive wings - who talk of a “new world” and a “new beginning” and thus the story of the Christ Child is woven into the fabric of the show.

Mention must be made of two well-behaved lambs and the two charming little ponies that accompanied the wise men. One assumes the third king walked or had other methods of transport! A definite showstopper was the performance by the Celtic Dance Company.

Ticket-holders can also gain access to Sea World’s aquarium displays from 18h00. All funds raised by the show will be dedicated to ensuring the future of South African oceans through marine conservation. Book at Computicket. Enquiries to (031) 337-3537.