Perhaps not the best known musical, Drew McOnie’s production and Rona Munro’s adaptation ensure that this revival is a perfectly charming way to spend a summer’s evening.
While much of the focus is on Edinburgh for the festival this month, a touch of Scotland has arrived in London with the first revival of Lerner & Loewe’s Brigadoon in over 35 years.
First of all, this musical is ideal for the Regent’s Park Open Theatre with the natural surroundings working perfectly particularly in Basia Bińkowska’s set design comprised of jagged edged ramps that have a feeling of cliffs, softened down by purple heather and grasses, evoking a romantic feeling of the Scottish highlands.
Perhaps the story of the village of Brigadoon that only appears once every 100 hundred years with hints of magic to it as the two American bomber crew land unexpectedly into its midst to discover what is really important is a little bit disorientating and flimsy. But Munro’s adaptation find the musical’s heart and soul that keeps the audience invested as the story unfolds. It isn’t gritty but it is unexpected in its charm.
As darkness falls and a darker tone to the story emerges (although I wish I could have understood more about Harry’s resentment and frustration towards the village and have his character brought into it more), it becomes even more compelling to watch to see what Tommy decides to do having fallen in love with Fiona in the wake of what he discovers about the village and how it then impacts on his friendship with Jeff. There is a real rawness of emotion on display.
But it is the music and the choreography that really shines in this production. My goodness there is such a flair in which McOnie’s choreography (which features aspects of the original dances created by AgnesDe Mille combines traditional Scottish dance and uses it such extraordinary effect to drive the story forward. It is consistently light and breezy in the first act but then in the second showcases beautifully the enduring connection between the characters and how their stories are intertwined.
Meanwhile, Lerner & Loewe’s beautifully lush and romantic score is haunting to listen to live with Sarah Tarvis’ orchestrations having extraordinary depth and texture to them. The Overture alone is captivating itself, with the sound of bagpipes (played stupendously well by David Colvin and Robin Mackenzie) offering a chill down the spine as the scene is set. Elsewhere, it is hard to resist the gorgeous tones ‘Almost Like Being in Love’ and ‘The Love of My Life’, combined with more playful numbers. Elsewhere, ‘The Funeral’ while certainly more sombre is haunting and packs a powerful punch on the audience’s emotions as the story reaches its climax.
The cast are each divine in their own ways in the way in which they approach their characters Danielle Fiamanya (who shares the role of Fiona with Georgina Onuorah) really shines in the way she captures the character’s the character’s kindness but no nonsense approach, while it is also hard to resist Nic Meyer’s flirtatious and perfectly comical take on Meg (her moments with Cavan Clarke as Jeff are real highlights). Louis Gaunt as Tommy is a charismatic romantic lead and it is hard to resist Gilli Jones as Charlie who never fails to make the audience smile with his sheer exuberance. i would have been interested to see more of Danny Nattrass’s Harry being able to uncover a bit more of the character’s darkness to add more drama. But there is no doubting the sheer exuberance from the cast as a whole.
Overall, there is a dreamlike quality to this production that makes it completely irresistible – even if the plot isn’t the strongest. This is a perfect way to spend a summer evening – drizzle (yes it drizzled just to enhance the magic) rain included.
By Emma Clarendon
Brigadoon continues to play at the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre until the 20th September. To book tickets click here.
Rating: ❤️❤️❤️❤️