Still living The High Life with Forbes, Alan, Siobhan and Patrick - Karen Koren
I took a trip down memory lane to watch and enjoy the new musical adaptation of 'The High Life' at Dundee Rep Theatre last week and the Festival Theatre this week.
Seeing the original cast of the TV series from the 1990s reunite on stage was a delightful experience, with their wickedly funny charm and infectious chemistry.
Alan Cumming, Forbes Masson, Siobhan Redmond and Patrick Ryecart were all brilliant in reprising their hilarious characters and it was great to see so many familiar faces after the shows in Dundee and Edinburgh.
Based on the original, much-loved BBC Scotland cult comedy series, the revival sees the iconic characters of Sebastian Flight, Steve McCracken, Shona Spurtle and Captain Hilary Duff finding themselves growing older in an ever-changing and bonkers world.
The show features new and original music by Alan Cumming and Forbes Masson, and was a wonderful celebration of the genius behind the original show that lit up living rooms across Scotland back in the 90s.
The show was half panto and half fantasy – very below the belt, but done is such a way that you were half shocked and half thinking did they really say that.
It was especially poignant for me since I promoted Victor and Barry, founding members of the Kelvinside Young People’s Amateur Dramatic Society, back in 1985 and encouraged Forbes and Alan to develop their characters.
They got together while studying at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in Glasgow – now the Conservatoire. It was during that time that Forbes as Victor McIlvaney and Alan as Barry McLeish, became very successful in the 1980s. So much so that television came calling and the High Life was born.
Very much a cult comedy TV show and a brilliant idea of Alan and Forbes, the National Theatre of Scotland, Dundee Rep, Capital Theatres and Aberdeen Arts to get together and make the High Life into a musical.
Johnny McKnight came in to co-write the show with Alan and Forbes and what a show they have come up with. The songs are all catchy and the Eurovision entry very believable, especially since Graham Norton is the voice over for the terrific Finale.
Siobhan Redmond shines as Shona Spurtle and also Louise McCarthy as Heather Argyll was wonderful for her over-acting.
The show does not disappoint and I encourage all of you to go and see it. It’s at the Festival theatre just now and it moves to Aberdeen, Inverness, and The King’s Glasgow.
I will be going back for sure!