The Stage

Whisky Galore - a Musical

Published Monday 15 June 2009 at 11:20 by Peter Cargill

This is the year of Homecoming Scotland - a campaign to celebrate the country’s rich cultural diversity. For its contribution, Pitlochry Festival Theatre’s summer programme of six plays has been entitled ‘Home’, celebrating Scottish writers and playwrights.

And, for the first time in the theatre’s 58-year history, a musical takes to the stage.

Shona McKee McNeil’s play is based on the novel rather then the classic film and concentrates on the humour generated by the religious divide on the mythical western isles of Great and Little Todday as the inhabitants bemoan the lack of drink, then celebrate the “act of God” at the sinking of a whisky-laden ship.

The 14-strong cast act, dance, sing and play a variety of instruments, and, although Ian Hammond Brown’s music proves a little repetitive at times, that is a minor gripe in what is a cracking start to the season.

Under Ken Alexander’s assured direction, the pace flowed as quickly as the whisky - even quicker, in fact, when the Scotch eventually appeared.

Ken Harrison’s designs are evocative of the Scottish islands, complete with ship’s bow through the mist as the islanders row out to the shipwreck.

The musical versatility of the cast is, unfortunately, lost on the majority of the audience, as they are apparent only to the privileged few who can see into the wings behind musical director Jon Beales on keyboard. But special mention must go to Dougal Lee, who in addition to a rich baritone voice, also plays around ten other instruments. And young George Rae makes a major vocal contribution on his debut in Pitlochry.

However, there are 14 major players in what is a memorable musical first - as smooth as malt, in fact.

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