Lend Me A Tenor

It's the AmDram's Worst Nightmare!  The lead singer loses his voice and can't perform.  That is the essence of the plot of this show, which many have performed as a play.  But now comes the Musical!  And did it happen for Runway?  An exceedingly emphatic YES!!!!  J.Campbell Kerr, well known in the West of Scotland (and furth of Scotland) was cast in the Pavarotti-esque rôle as Tito Morelli, and many, I am sure, came to hear and see his performance as lead in this Rix Farce meets Grand Opera show and were de-vastated at missing the sound of his excellent voice.  Full marks to Tom Russell, part of the cast and knowing the songs, who stepped in backstage for the Friday and two Saturday performances, suitably acknowledged at the finalé by JCK.  And it didn't detract from the show at all!
A suitably complicated plot, with supposed death, mistaken identities, seductions, lots of doors, confirms it as farce, with some excellent Grand Opera style singing from principals and chorus.  J Campbell Kerr (Tito Morelli) managed to speak the lines, but could not sing in an excellent caricature of the Italian Tenor.  Luckily Tom Russell was able to sing backstage for him, and the lip-synch worked well.  Iain G Condie (Henry Saunders) played the nasty Impresario well, bossing Kris Haddow (Max Garber) mercilessly whilst attempting, fairly unsuccessfully, to re-organise his Opera.  Kris starting as shy, downtrodden assistant in love with the boss’s daughter Maggie (Roslyn Hogg) but rose superbly to substitute as Tito, to the extent that his seduction by Maggie surprised them both.  Chriss Mills (Diana Divane, lead soprano) showed her vast experience and skill playing the diva, Aileen Johnston was Tito’s jealous wife Maria, leaving him but returning to forgive him, and Susan B Russell, Anne Fraser and Margaret-Ann O’Neill added to the plot as the Committee ladies.  Belief was obviously suspended with the three ‘Titos’ being different sizes, but I did explain it was farce.  With various sub-principals and a very competent chorus adding to the performance, this was another excellent show from Runway, combining Musical and pantomime skills in this Scottish Première.
 

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