White Christmas

This West of Scotland Première was all that was expected of this Irving Berlin songfest.  Bright, colourful, lots of action and more well-known songs than lots of other shows meant a happy audience at the performance I attended, matched at the previous ones if my spies are to be believed.  John McGlone (Phil Davis) and Jim McPhee (Bob Wallace), ex WWII GI buddies, are a great song and dance duo (despite Jim’s torn ligaments from a previous show) which attempts to team up with Eleanor Docherty and Aly Lamond (the singing Haynes Sisters) with romance and showbiz success in the plans.  A contrived boost to a failing hotel run by Neil Anderson (ex Commanding Officer Gen.Waverly) and Anne Allan (Martha Watson, his feisty manageress) brings another ex-GI buddy Roy McGregor (TV executive Ralph Sheldrake) and Sara Cartwright (Waverly’s granddaughter Susan) a very bright, talented youngster, to the proposed cabaret in the hotel. Greg Reid (harassed floor manager Mike) caused more laughs, as did Alison Wood and Sharon Cartwright (RIta and Rhoda) sticking their noses in at every opportunity. The unnamed principals aka the chorus moved and sang well in their various guises, but surprise of the show was Pauline Mitchell (Esther) playing at least twenty years older than she is and delighting everyone as a dodderer. Well done, all.

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