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| Edinburgh : A&E : Theatre : Reviews |
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Theatre listings > Tutti Frutti. - Musical - World Premiere. Playwright - John Byrne. Director - Tony Cownie. Designer - Neil Murray. Lighting Designer - Jeanine Davies. Musical Director - Neil McArthur. Company - National Theatre of Scotland Company Website. Cast - here . Venue - King's Theatre, Edinburgh.. Dates - 3 - 7 October, 2006 Touring 2007 starting with King's Theatre, Glasgow, 12 -21 April, 2007. Run Time - 2 hours 50 mins including one interval. Reviewer - Vivien Devlin. Makes its own magic.
Byrne has had to adapt, edit and distil over six hours of original scripts into this new two and a half hour stage version, thus cramming a helluva lot of plot, dialogue and jokes into the show. The story begins in the rain at the funeral of the band's lead singer, Big Jazza, who has been tragically killed in a car crash, just before their Silver Jubilee Tour. His younger brother Danny, (Robbie Coltrane look alike, Tom Urie) arrives home from New York for the funeral and, as he is a spitting image of his brother, is immediately asked by Eddie Clockerty, the manager, to stand in for Big Jazza as the tour goes ahead. This is a fast and furious, laugh a minute journey as we follow the Majestics on and off stage, around Scotland from Glasgow to Ardrossan, Buckie and back again. The industrial steel girder split-level set is used to great effect across dozens of scenes, from bars, hotels, art gallery, hospital, bedrooms, bathrooms to theatre stage. A drop down screen shows archive footage of the Majestics, circa 1964 and in true Hollywood B movie style, the road flashing past behind a "travelling" car.
The play can best be described as a romantic tragi-comedy musical, featuring a live soundtrack of great 50s and 60s hits, "Dream, Dream, Dream", "Love Hurts", "Tutti Frutti", and "You've Lost that Loving Feeling." There are some delightful quiet solos and duets between the girls, and raunchy rock numbers. John Ramage in smart camel coat and clipped, camp Glasgow accent is hilarious as Eddie, well complemented by Julie Wilson Nimmo as the scatty but bright cookie, Janice Toner. Their classic double act, Janice's fast changing frocks, and many of the humorous sketches between Danny and Suzy, and sharp wit throughout, is pure pantomime. Director Tony Cownie choreographs the whole ensemble to release the cast's considerable comic timing. But does the adaptation of this much loved (and only once repeated) six part TV series work? John Byrne has taken these colourful characters and created something very theatrical which makes its own magic. The action-packed story told through fast paced scenes, some of them remarkably short adds up to a rather frenetic but successful show that packs in far more than a typical musical. For those who never saw the original, it's a fresh, new entertaining musical comedy, which hits the mark and for those who did it is a celebration. ©Vivien Devlin, 3 October, 2006 - Published on EdinburghGuide.com Cast - Dennis - Kenneth Bryans, Vincent - Tam Dean Burn, Fud - Barrie Hunter, Noreen - Pauline Knowles, Glenna - Helen Mallon, Bomba - John McGlynn, Stuart - Alan McHugh, Lachie - Gavin Mitchell, Janice Toner - Julie Wilson Nimmo, Eddie Clockerty - John Ramage, Suzy Kettles - Dawn Steele, Danny McGlone - Tom Urie and Sheena Fisher - Clare Waugh. Theatre Editor, Thelma Good's e-mail is thelma@edinburghguide.com Although every effort has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the information presented in these pages, no responsibility can be accepted for any errors or omissions. |
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Tutti Frutti - National Theatre of Scotland Production.