Joy Watters reviews the theatrical outing of the beloved 'cheeky comic character'.
Dundee Rep and Oor Wullie, the cheeky comic character, both celebrate their 80th birthdays this year, so what better time to present a brand new musical opening at the Rep before a spring tour.
A co-production between the Rep, Selladoor Productions and Noisemaker, directed by Andrew Panton, it takes the long-serving resident of the Fun Section of The Sunday Post and puts him together with a young schoolboy who is being bullied at school.
The show begins with Wahid on the receiving end of racist taunts, and as an Asian born in Scotland, he cannot handle it, pointing out that he is the same as his schoolmates. His loneliness leads him to the collected works of Oor Wullie and soon the cheeky chappie himself materialises in Wahid’s bedroom to take him on a life changing journey.
It’s off to Auchenshoogle, Wullie’s hame toon, where the audience meets his gang and the show really takes off with a lot of fun and nonsense to entertain the audience, particularly the youngsters. Writer Scott Gilmour and composer Claire McKenzie have created a script with contemporary references and issues and a score that encompasses music from all over the world.
Martin Quinn’s Wullie is a bright eyed rascal, leading the gang from the front. Toon bully Basher McKenzie has been turned into a girl for the show, and Leanne Traynor is up for the challenge. Basher purloins Wullie’s famous bucket and the chase is on with Wahid helping the gang.
Rep ensemble stalwart Ann Louise Ross plays PC Murdoch (as a man) and could have walked off the page of the original comic strip. She captures the essence of Murdoch perfectly, bringing a lot of humour to the show.
It is not a particularly Christmas show (it goes on a spring tour afterwards) but is more of a family affair.
Runs until January 5, then tour: Glasgow Theatre Royal (20 - 25 Jan 2020), Edinburgh Kings Theatre (28 Jan – 1 Feb 2020), The Gaiety (3 Feb - 8 Feb 2020), Eden Court (10 - 15 Feb 2020), Macrobert Arts Centre (26 - 29 Feb 2020), Aberdeen Performing Arts (3 - 7 Mar 2020), Adam Smith (9 - 11 Mar 2020), Beacon Arts Centre (12 - 14 Mar 2020).
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