By AMMC

This was a great show! There was something about it that appealed to the audience – was it the music? Was it the colour and glitziness? Was it the enthusiasm and talent of the cast? Yes, all of these and more. A feeling of wellbeing that despite all the trials and tribulations that life can bring, we can all be uplifted and refreshed by such a happy occasion.

We are now becoming familiar with the George Square Theatre for the end-of-session musical and lessons are being learned. One of these is not to have too many performers on a small stage. Since last year, the overall number has been cut by one-third which produced a company who came across as a unified and cohesive group, who all pulled in the same direction and who seemed genuinely happy in each other’s company. It is good to see each year how new members of the cast join the more experienced ones and learn from them. However, thought for next year! Having cut the cast down, perhaps cut down some of the scenery and props from a rather crowded looking stage?

It was a pleasure to see so many good performances. The Girls’ Chorus were remarkable in many respects – numerous costume changes; balancing magnificent over-the-top headdresses for the finale; looking completely unrecognisable as school girls. There were the stalwart musical regulars like Sandy Jones, Derek Salmond, Simon Donne, Sasha Kobakhidze, Rowan Hendry, Keir Anderson, Chris Medley and Scott Mackay whose dopey Moose belied his three silver medals! Karen Mulholland and Craig Denham kept up the comedy as the very English Fodors and Sallyann Jubb, Alice Robb and Ruth Siller provided telling cameos. Richard Watson added to his growing reputation in drama as Everett and it was good to see such school characters as Chas Williams, and Peter Dickson joining the cast. The Orchestra played the music with a real swing to it and Howard Duthie’s last appearance at a Heriot’s musical must have pleased him a great deal.

Another new comer to the stage was Liam Upton as Bela Zangler. Liam usually plays in the orchestra and I was amused to see that despite his stage role, he nevertheless managed to re-appear at one point in his normal gear together with his beloved double bass! For a newcomer this was an auspicious debut: he maintained his accent throughout and the number “What Causes That?” with Bobby was one of the hits of the show. Graeme Walker has appeared many times on stage but this was surely his most crazy and manic performance yet as Lank Hawkins. Nicola Irvine also has stage experience and she gave a most assured performance as Polly Baker. She is a striking personality on stage and improves with every production.

However, the final words about the cast must go to Emun Mohammadi as Bobby Child. I have seen many school performances but this was just about the best. He is a complete natural – totally at ease (although we know that entails hard work), he can act, speak, sing, dance, improvise – in short the lot! From his first early appearance in the show he set the production on course for an excellent evening’s entertainment.

Finally, but not least, all the off stage workers. The programme pages headed “Production Team”, “Production Acknowledgements”, “Front of House Team” etc illustrate how, in fact, more people help off stage than appear on stage. To all of them our thanks and congratulations. The programme title page reveals the names Chalmers Neil, Linda Nicol and Cameron Wyllie, who staged and directed the show. This ranks high amongst the best shows in recent years and despite some rough moments in rehearsals, the old adage was as true as ever “It’ll be alright on the night,” and, as the cast sang at the end, “Who could ask for anything more?”