Showing @ King’s Theatre, Edinburgh until Sun 01 Mar @ 19:30 (+ matinees)
With the referendum looming ever closer, Scots are being bombarded with political propaganda ranging from Alex Salmond’s promises of a utopian future, to the threats of David Cameron and his bullying cronies. Southern Light Opera have defiantly turned their backs on this relentless onslaught and present, in Lerner and Loewe‘s classic musical, a vision of Scotland as sugary as a slab of tablet, as “tartan’ed up” as a Woollen Mill’s finest tin of shortbread.
Brigadoon opened on Broadway in 1947, but its misty-eyed portrayal of the Highlands owes more to Victorian mythology than post-War America. Two jaded American hunters stumble across an enchanting – and enchanted – Scottish village and spend a life-changing day with its charming but anachronistic inhabitants. Drama, seduction, betrayal, and of course, true love ensue. The cliches come thick and fast, but they are wrapped up in such a neat parcel of classic tunes and gripping romance that it is impossible to resist.
As is to be expected from any amateur production, the performances vary a great deal but generally the casting is very well judged. “American” Tommy Albright (Eddie McDowell) and local lass Fiona (Kat Angus) are convincing as the romantic leads, but the undoubted star is Peter Tomassi as Albright’s booze-addled and sarcastic compatriot. There are a few sour notes to be sure, and viewers familiar with Lerner and Loewe’s original may be distracted by the inexplicable decision to change the names of several characters and otherwise toy with the script. Southern Light may lack professional polish, but the cast’s dedication and enthusiasm make up for most of the rough edges.
Scotland’s future hangs in the balance, but this Highland idyll demonstrates that turning to the past may offer a welcome solace from, if not a solution to, our current political turmoil.