Whisky Kisses

The choice of this relatively new show – a Highland premiere – was a brave one, but one which they carried off well. James Bryce’s music, for the book and lyrics by Euan Martin and local man David Smith, is often challenging but the choral singing of this group was well up to it. The show tells the story of Mary McGregor who has inherited the family’s debt-ridden distillery and her efforts to save it by selling off the globally sought after last bottle of the fabled malt – The Glenigma. Opening in the New York office of Wall Street wheeler dealer, and whisky collector, we are introduced to Ben Munro, strongly played by Iain McKenzie, who clearly states he has “gotta have” the bottle at any costs. He and his put-upon Personal Assistant Jeff, well played by Shaun Cowan, head to Scotland where the whisky is to be auctioned off. There they encounter Ben’s rival Japanese businessman Yomo Yomostushi, sensitively played by Andy Hirst, who has been sent to purchase the whisky by his dying father. Mary McGregor, played by Sharon MacLeod, is waiting for them. Sharon’s portrayal of the woman torn between which way to turn to save the business, and the livelihood of her employees and friends, was well portrayed and her rendition of “Fear a’Bhata” was one of the highlights of the show. A lot of the comedy in the show comes from the language differences between the highlanders and their overseas visitors and this was in the safe hands of Gerry Revie (Lachie the distillery foreman), Derek Brown (Duncan the distillery handyman) and Lynda Wood (Alice, Mary’s Australian assistant). Also adding to the comedy were John Gunn as Giles “the man from the ministry”, who turns up with theme park designers Lottie and Josie, hilariously portrayed by Kirsten Winch and Carol Macleod and Kay Smith as the distillery’s “numbers” woman Val. Running alongside the distillery story is the growing attraction between Duncan and Jeff which was very sensitively handled by the two actors. Singing by principals and chorus alike were of the high standard we have come to expect from this company. Movement was well carried out especially in the ceilidh scene. Well done to all The Garrick Singers.

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