Seven Brides for Seven Brothers

Choreographer: Jonathan Parsons and Marie McElhinney

This show is often rejected by clubs “because we struggle for a male chorus, without needing seven principals!” Lyric managed it, and I have seen the show produced in Ardrishaig, not exactly a huge population! Problems like this are sometimes too easily accepted without any attempt to test “nothing ventured, nothing gained”.
Lyric Club certainly managed, albeit with some of the parts played by members new to the Club, but what a success the show was. Catherine Mackenzie (Milly) and J.Campbell Kerr (Adam) were ideal as the main characters, although many didn’t recognise the ‘new’ Campbell, casting less of a shadow. Chorus work was not plentiful, due to the storyline, but certainly those apart from the main sixteen worked well when called to, showing resentment at these hillbillies coming and stealing all the eligible womenfolk — another six cast members as the rejected suitors, plus stalwarts Alan Or, Iain Fraser and Andrew Anderson with Slay McVean and Lorna Ramsay as parents of some of the brides, and then ten more unnamed principals — a full company. All the Brothers (Andrew Jack, Ghyll McCallum, Barrie Wilson, Ryan Towart, Graeme Southwood and Eric Skea) characterised — and sang — well, while the bevy of beauties who were the Brides (Emily Thomson, Denise Barclay, Morven McCallum, Nikki Green, Heather Smith and Clare Cuthbert) brought their own feisty glamour to the production, showing the the hard work from the production team paid off. Happy looking cast, happy audience, success all round.

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