"Bewfy" puppet elves are a joy

We also use snatches of Billy Connoly era Glaswegian picked up by my daughters during their teenage years at a comprehensive populated largely by the children of second and third generation Scottish immigrants to an English steelmaking town.

It's a non-stop process, for my grandchildren have just latched on to a new word which looks set to enter the official Langley argot.

I'm guessing at the spelling, but it sounds like "bewfy".

That, in case you haven't seen the final family show at the mac before it closes for the big facelift, is how puppet elves say "beautiful".

Back in 2004 the Mike Kenny version of The Elves and the Shoemakers was a big hit.

Now it's been revived with Vicky Virgo and Leigh Kelly, who also directs.

It's a feelgood no-interval romp through the famous tale with the helpful elves showing an inclination for glitzy fashion and a terrific disco dancing finale.

Great fun for slightly younger kids and older students of elvish vernacular. When we went my grandchildren were delighted to spot Pinnochio (well the actor who played him in the mac Christmas hit) sitting behind us with a gaggle of kids in his offstage role of dad or uncle.

The mac is that kid of place and won't we all miss it like mad!

The show runs until March 24. Check with the box office on 0121 403838 for dates and times.

A line in the Elves programme offers thanks to Clive Chandler. He's the gifted Brum-based puppeteer and moving force behind the events which have turned our region into a globally-acknowledged centre of excellence for the art.

He's also chair of Puppeteers UK (PUK) which has been helping organise what promises to be a major fundraiser for the mac building project.

Many people will recall the mac-based Cannon Hill Puppet Theatre and the wonderful figures created by John Blundall. They've been stored at mac since the theatre cut its strings in 1992.

Now more than 250 bewfy puppets are to be auctioned off at a special event on March 30.

John Blundall has received a gift of 80 figures to add to his collection at The Mitchell Library in Glasgow. Some of the sale proceeds will go to PUK, the rest to the building fund.

Auction admission is by £5 ticket only. It's bound to attract huge attention and the actual sale will be in the cinema where the puppets used to perform.

Full details at puppetauction.co.uk