Productions of Brigadoon are as rare as, well, sightings of the fictional Scottish Highlands village of the same name, a magical place that appears for one day every hundred years. The last major London revival was more than 35 years ago, a bewildering fact given that this ebulliently tuneful musical, which premiered in 1947, comes from that glorious post-war golden era of Broadway shows, in which the hope of a weary world was channelled into some of the most glorious song and dance the theatre has ever seen.
Brigadoon was the debut Broadway hit from Alan Jay Lerner (book and lyrics) and Frederick Loewe (music), who would later advance to the acme of success with My Fair Lady. Yet Brigadoon was itself a notable triumph, a tune-stuffed delight with exquisite extended choreography from Agnes de Mille and it finds its new home now in the optimum setting of the sylvan lushness of an alfresco amphitheatre in Regent’s Park.
Musicals at the Open Air Theatre have become a key component of the summer theatre scene; previous artistic director Tim Sheader magicked up hit after hit and now new boss Drew McOnie directs his first show at the venue and makes a notable statement of intent.
Playwright Rona Munro has adapted Lerner’s original book and her firm but gentle tweaks work splendidly well. Two American hunters lost in the Scottish Highlands have now morphed into two weary American WW2 pilots, Tommy (Louis Gaunt) and Jeff (Cavan Clarke), bewildered and trying to find their way back to base.
They stumble upon a place that is all kilts and comely maidens, a friendly locale that is about to celebrate a wedding but has never heard of a “phone”. Tommy is instantly smitten with Fiona (Danielle Fiamanya on opening night, although the role is shared with Georgina Onuorah) but he senses something beguilingly odd about Brigadoon. A village elder eventually (sort of) explains the situation: long-ago magic means that Brigadoon exists in a wrinkle of the space-time continuum, but if anyone ever leaves the enchantment will be broken for ever.
Spectators are advised not to dwell overmuch on the unlikely existential logistics of this set-up, but instead to relish the feast of song and dance. McOnie, a choreographer by trade, offers a sumptuous spectacle of movement, including a ceremonial sword dance at the wedding. Memorable songs land thick and fast, including “Almost Like Being in Love” and “Come to Me, Bend to Me”.
There can be no faulting any of the performances, yet two in particular sparkle. Gilli Jones makes a notable stage debut as irrepressible bridegroom Charlie; “I’ll Go Home with Bonnie Jean” is his ebullient serenade to his intended. Nic Myers raises warm laughter as the enthusiastic Meg, whose comic number “The Love of My Life” details her complex romantic history. I very much doubt that we’ll have to wait for another 35/100 years to catch another glimpse of Brigadoon.
To September 20 (0333 400 3562, openairtheatre.com)
