Brigadoon at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre
★★★★★
Brigadoon is a love letter to the beauty of the Scottish Highlands, set against a backdrop of magic and mystery that draws the audience in and gently guides them along the journey.
*POSSIBLE SPOILERS AHEAD*
Content Warnings:
The theatre had warnings on display which stated that the production contained:
Portrayals of Death
Mentions of War
Moments of Loud Instrumentals
I personally struggled to watch this show at times due to the power of these moments and other content within the show, which was as follows:
Portrayals of Grief
Violence - there is violence during fighting scenes and another scene where a character is grabbed by their hair and pushed to the ground during the wedding scene
Naked Flames
In general, this show has the potential to be difficult to watch as it confronts beliefs of life, death and miracles in a way that I, as an audience member, struggled with, and I briefly considered leaving at some points. Brigadoon causes the audience to consider whether Brigadoon is truly a miracle or simply Tommy Albright’s heaven, and the ending of the show further fuels these questions and personally this was difficult to watch as the emotional power of the scene added to the intensity of the moment for me.
My Review:
show, and I was left in awe by the beauty of the entire staging. Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre is one of the loveliest venues I have been fortunate to visit, and this production was no different. Blending the set into the natural background seamlessly allowed the audience to feel fully immersed in Brigadoon alongside the two American Pilots. I have already said it, but as someone who has been lucky enough to be able to visit the Scottish Highlands multiple times, this show felt like a true love letter to the beauty and culture of the area, and the power of the bagpipes alone was enough to leave me moved and touched by this production.
The show opens with two bagpipers and two drummers playing the Introduction, and this sets the tone for the full show with the integration of musicians throughout, either through the use of actors in scenes or the orchestra, which is visible underneath the higher level of the set. Brigadoon uses the power of bagpipes to its advantage with the significance of a Lone Piper (David Colin), playing on the Hill after the death of Harry Beaton. The Lone Piper represents courage, defiance and honour, and its significance in Brigadoon is no different. Harry Beaton died with the courage to defy the rules of Brigadoon, and although his choice may be seen by some as selfish, it was done with bravery and determination. This scene is already moving, but the staging with the lone piper overlooking the funeral procession increases the impact tenfold, moving me to tears. Having first seen a Lone Piper play to close the Edinburgh Military Tattoo, I was taken back to this moment and reminded of the strength that is shown by that person, and it made me consider the strength of Harry Beaton to fight for himself. Norman Bowman (Archie Beaton) uses his performance to add to the power of this scene as his portrayal of a grieving father moved me completely, and I found myself crying with the character for all that he lost due to the desperation of himself and the others of Brigadoon to protect all that they have. The Highland sword dance during the wedding scene is another moment Scottish tradition is able to shine and be celebrated during this performance, which was wonderful to see throughout. The choreography of this show is a true standout, with the ensemble producing gorgeous balletic lines and in-time performance that was somehow light yet sharp throughout. The blend of traditional dance and more balletic themes produced beautiful choreography that seemed to mimic the soft sway of the nature of Brigadoon, whilst also showing the strength of the people of Brigadoon to survive despite the odds being stacked against them. This interpretation is down to the testament to the talent and mind of Drew McOnie.
The American Pilots who open the main show are Tommy Albright (Louis Gaunt) and Jeff Douglas (Cavan Clarke). Upon becoming stranded in the Scottish Highlands, they stumble upon an alluring, magical town, Brigadoon, where they are taken in and embraced by the people of Brigadoon. These two pilots directly contrast each other throughout, and I enjoyed how this highlighted the arguments anyone might consider when deciding whether to stay or leave Brigadoon. Louis Gant fights for the stay argument as he discovers the meaning of true love in one day with Fiona MacLaren (Georgina Onuorah), whereas Cavan Clarke fights to leave as he remembers what they are leaving behind, with neither pilot wanting to leave the other. The characterisation from both actors is wonderful and consistently highlights the different priorities and emotions of the two pilots and suggests how even shared experiences can impact people differently. Louis Gant highlights his vocal ability during his solo, ‘There But For You I Go’. He had a wonderful range and rich voice, which was thoroughly enjoyable to listen to, and he was able to maintain his American accent whilst singing, which I found impressive, as he did not allow his focus on accent to cause his performance or vocal talent to falter in the slightest.
Georgina Onuorah shows yet again why she is a true star of our time with her portrayal of Fiona MacLaren. I will never not sing the praises of Georgina Onuorah as she possesses one of the best voices I have heard, and I am constantly drawn in by her general performancer and characterisation. I loved how she was able to show the strong, independent side of Fiona MacLaren whilst seamlessly highlighting her softer side, where she desires to find true love when someone walks in and she’ll see them and just know (at this time, little does she know what her future holds). Her hope for true love is conveyed during ‘Waitin’ for my Dearie’, whilst questioning the desperation of others to get married, she also reflects on her desire to meet her own love and considers how she will wait for the only one she’ll ever love. Georgina Onuorah delivers this solo beautifully and once again left me in awe of her vocal skill and range. Later on, in walks Tommy Albright and with that, the audience gets to see their short yet true love flourish, and this is especially shown through their duets ‘The Heather on the Hill’ and ‘Almost Like Being in Love’. These two duets show different points in their relationship and highlight the thoughts and emotions of both characters at these two points in the play. Their duets are blended wonderfully and allow for the progression of the plot through the use of song.
Gilli Jones plays Charlie Dalrymple, who is set to marry Jean MacLaren (Jasmine Jules Andrews), much to the dismay of Harry Beaton (Danny Nattrass). Gilli Jones delivers a wonderful rendition of ‘I’ll Go Home with Bonnie Jean’, which conveys the relationship of these two characters early in the show and highlights how much he cares for and loves Jean MacLaren. He is able to provide a high-energy performance throughout without losing vocal stability or performance, which is true for all the performers and something that I think made this show so impressive and engaging to watch. Another extremely enjoyable performance was from Jasmine Jules Andrews joined by Chrissy Brooke (Maggie Anderson), Bethany Tennick (Katy), Elizabeth Armstrong, Tanisha Mae-Brown, Shoko Ito and Eve Parsons. This was such a fun moment in the show and showed the playful and naive love of Jean and Charlie, which contrasts with the love of Fiona and Tommy were who knew what they risked should they desire to be with one another.
Nic Myers is Meg Brockie, and she delivers a flawless performance both vocally and in terms of choreography throughout. She shines during her solo ‘The Love of My Life’, this song blends comedy and characterisation to provide a wonderful insight into Meg Brockie, and not only did Nic Myers shine during this moment, but so did the male ensemble (Taylor Bradshaw, Adam Davidson, Tim Hodges, Liam Wrate, David Colvin, Christian Knight, Robin Mackenzie and Owen McHugh).
Edward Baruwa was lovely to watch as Andrew MacLaren, and his portrayal of a caring father also concerned with protecting their secret was perfection, being well-considered and as such well-presented to the audience. Joining him in what could be considered a maternal role for all the people of Brigadoon was Anna Lacey as Lundie. I thoroughly enjoyed how she was portrayed as a portrayal separate from the centre of Brigadoon, whilst simultaneously being the beating heart of the town. Her living away from the centre showed her desire to live in peace and remember her husband whilst continuing his work of looking after the citizens of Brigadoon.
Thank you for taking the time to read and I hope this review has proved interesting and helpful for you :)
- AnxiousTheatregoer
