Brigadoon

With a fairly atypical beginning to a Lerner & Lowe musical, Brigadoon, allows the chorus to “go it alone” after the houselights have faded – doing away with any overture.
During the prologue, we glimpse the villagers of Brigadoon through a well-designed gauze crossfade – giving a suitably mysterious feel to complement the action which is to follow.
Tommy Albright (Eddie McDowell) and Jeff Douglas (Peter Tomassi) provide a present day introduction before we are transported through the rolling mist into MacConnachy Square in Brigadoon. Here, again, the small but powerful chorus take the lead, introducing us to a day in the life of this fictional village. It is here that Tommy and Fiona MacKeith (Kat Angus) meet and fall in love – the scene culminating in their fine duet “The Heather on the Hill” – always a favourite with the audience!
Simultaneously, Jeff “falls in to the arms” of man-mad Meg Brockie, played to maximum comic effect by Judith Barron. Meg’s Bothy scene allows the opportunity to hear the first of Meg’s two comic numbers- “The Love of my Life”.  Both this and “My Mother’s Weddin’ Day” later in the show, are given the Brockie treatment by Judith, to the obvious appreciation of the audience.
Before we reach the Wedding scene between Jean MacKeith (Donna Ewing) and Charlie Cameron (Colin Povey)  another audience favourite is introduced – “Come to me, Bend to me” , sung with clarity and conviction by Colin.
Before the act concludes, at Tommy’s request the miracle of Brigadoon is explained by the Dominie, Mr Murdoch – a clearly enunciated account given by David McBain.
The male chorus may be small in number, but, nevertheless performed with gusto. However this wasn’t enough to stop the love-spurned Harry Ritchie (Scott Walker) from trying to escape the village and its consequential demise. Brigadoon is saved, however, by the actions of Jeff Douglas – fatally injuring the unloved Harry.
The day comes to an end in Brigadoon, and Tommy and Jeff return to their favourite New York bar, where despite efforts on the part of his fiancée Jane Ashton (Lorna Frier), Tommy finds himself forced into breaking off his engagement and returning to Brigadoon to spend the rest of his life with Fiona.
An excellent production with thoughtful direction by Laura Jordan Reed and clear and well-controlled singing under the baton of Peter Robinson. The icing on the cake was the well-designed choreography by Janice Bruce which introduced a number of novel ideas in to the show. Finally, mention must be made of sets and lighting design both of which added in their own way to a most enjoyable evening.
Thank you very much for inviting me to journey across the Forth to Brigadoon!

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