REVIEW: Musical gives glowing tribute in memory of Rush composer
TO stage a full scale musical, utilising a new concept of an old idea, a backdrop illustrating scenes, and blend this with live action, takes courage.
Thanks to director Colin Peter and graphic artists Neil Rowland and Stewart Brown, this worked for the Livingston Players' Scottish premiere of Rush.
The play tells the story of Scottish and Irish immigrants to New Zealand, desperate to make their fortunes prospecting for gold to improve life for their families.
From the moment The Prospector or storyteller begins to sing, the rich baritone voice of John Doonan and some excellent choral harmonies from the well-drilled chorus introduce us to the plot which features theft, rape, greed and murder and an unexpected twist – the hero wrongly accused of murder and hanged, returning as a slightly healthy looking ghost to bring retribution to the villains.
At times light-hearted and then dark, Rush features outstanding performances with hero John Ward, a jeweller forced to dig for gold, and Lesley Ward as his poverty struck wife Sarah, tackling the emotive score beautifully.
Alex Kemp's portrayal of O'Fea, the roguish yet lethal archetypal Irishman is brilliant, and in the scene with Claire Doonan as Millie Hall, the young mother who becomes a widow, the plot takes a sinister unexpected twist when he forces his unwelcome attention on her. Scary stuff!
As the brothers Lomax, David Hastie and David Bridges provide some brief lighter moments in a musical based on true life, it was never going to be a barrel of laughs. Yet this production does strike gold.
The main characters are ably supported by Calum Haig as Nathan Hall, Scott McGillivray and Dan Nolan as prospectors with Andy Smith and Jeff Robinson as the judge, together with Nicola Payne as the sassy hotel owner, who might well have been an ideal contender for "Nancy" in the recent TV contest.
Out of sight, but playing an integral part in this show, versatile Musical director Margaret McAdie on keyboard, Alastair Gammie on flute/clarinet, Billy Young on guitar and Colin MacRae on drums provide the atmospheric music and the impressive finale.
Innovative lighting design is produced by the lighting team. John Hutchinson, Danielle Steen and Bob Wells showed how the stage of the Brian Duguid auditorium could be transformed into gold prospecting New Zealand country.
With the assistance of minimal set design by Michael Dunn, delightful children and a mine of talent featuring some pretty impressive solos by John Doonan, John and Lesley Ward, Claire Doonan, Jeff Robinson and a trio of ladies from the chorus.
In staging the Scottish premiere of Rush, so professionally, the Livingston Players have not only honoured the new Brian Duguid auditorium, but the memory of Rush composer Kevin Lynch, who died in 2008. and his artistic partner and friend David John who wrote the words and lives in Australia.
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Monday 21 May 2012
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