Anna Burnside reviews the return of a production ‘with charm, humour and some great musical numbers’.
It’s 1997 and Steven is 17. Growing up in Millport, on the isle of Cumbrae, before the smoking ban but during Clause 28, was not fun. Apart from having a disastrous crush on classmate Henry Thomas, Steven had nothing to do but look at a long rock painted to look like a crocodile.
Then a flamboyant drag artiste arrives to play keyboards in the island’s country music festival and Steven discovers lipstick, sequins and refusing to apologise for being yourself.
Crocodile Rock has become one of PPP’s greatest hits, going on to have a life beyond the basement on Byres Road. Derren Brownlie, reprising the role of Steven, is tremendous, inhabiting the young lad discovering feelings that he can’t name or articulate as well as becoming his gruff pub-owning father, Pop Tart-heating wee mammy, Henry Thomas and the deus ex machina in the flowing wig.
Brownlie brings all his panto smarts to the role, with crowd work, a singalong and just enough disregard for the fourth wall. It’s hard to believe that this is written and directed by Andy McGregor and it’s not Brownlie’s own story.
And if it teeters towards mawkish in a couple of points, well gay men are notoriously sentimental about their wee mammies. It gets a pass because it tells an important story of a Scotland that is, hopefully, as out of date as a pub ashtray. It does it with charm, humour and some great musical numbers. What a great way to end the current season.
Crocodile Rock performs at Oran Mor’s A Play, A Pie and A Pint until 27 June 2026. For further details, go to the production’s website.
Photo by Tommy Ga-Ken Wan.
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