Brigadoon

Shut your eyes and when you open them again, all your troubles will have melted away. Unfortunately, that sort of thing only happens in fairy tales. But a little helping of make-believe does no-one any harm.

“Brigadoon” Walmsley Church Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society’s latest production, whisks us ordinary mortals off into an incredible world, where a night’s sleep lasts 100 years. In 1744, the people of Brigadoon, a small town in the highlands of Scotland, were threatened by the evil of witchcraft. Seeing only doom for his beloved town, the minister prayed to God for a miracle. The result was that the whole town disappeared into the highland mists, only to return for one day in every hundred years.

Two hundred years (or two days) later, a couple of Americans, holidaying in Scotland, stumble onto the re-awakened Brigadoon. What better setting for romance? Tommy Albright (Eddie Williams) falls to the charms of the sweet Fiona MacKeith (Iris Ward) and his friend Jeff Douglas (Philip Lloyd) is ensnared by Meg Brockie (Sylvia Fishwick) the ugly, but determined, duckling of the town. But love, even in a perfect world, brings its problems. Should Tommy leave his world behind and disappear with Fiona in to the mists of time or should he go back to New York and never see her again? Thwarted love in the form of Harry Ritchie (Bill White) who has wooed and lost Fiona’s sister, Jean (Dorothy Bramwell) also threatens to end the miracle of Brigadoon.

This light, but enjoyable musical is brought to life by some wonderful singing from Iris Ward and Sylvia Fishwick and lent authenticity by eye-catching costumes and the soulful sound of the Bolton Scottish Pipe Band.

H.C.

It rained as it always does on my visits to this Egerton outpost of musical plays, but the only mist this time was that which rolled over the schoolroom stage as the Scottish village awakened from its 100 years sleep.

The unpredictable Walmsley Church Operatic Society was for once being conventional. This was a production straight from the book with only Sylvia Fishwick giving us as low a comedy version of Meg Brockie as we have yet seen, stepping out of line. Hers was one of only a few familiar faces among the principals, for there has been an influx of new talent. A new leading lady for instance in Iris Ward playing Fiona. She has a most engaging personality, but a soprano voice that takes on a shrill note in the higher registers.

In complete contrast was the velvety bass baritone of Eddie Williams switching easily from his previous Abe in Summer Song to the juvenile lead of Tommy Albright. Philip Lloyd teamed up well with him as the more practical Jeff Douglas. Mr Murdoch provided Ernest Pollitt with another of his character studies.

For the rest it was competence without inspiration. But it won’t stay that way. Already I hear talk of funny things happening on the way to the Forum. What they will do with that show is unpredictable, but they are already raring to go. David Tyldsley Produced.

Tom Wildern