Anna Burnside reviews a musical that gives all the best material to the baddies.
The occupation of “a great big bucket in the sea” by Greenpeace activists may seem like an unlikely subject for a musical, but back in 1995, when Shell tried to break up the Brent Spar oil storage facility while it was still full of oil, it was a huge story.
Now, Sleeping Warrior have retold it through the medium of song, with four plucky protestors taking on the might of one of the world’s largest energy companies.
Shoehorning all that story into 90 minutes inevitably means reducing the characters to archetypes and fast forwarding over some of the nuance. There’s also a helpful history lesson for those of us who were not paying attention - or had not been born - almost 30 years ago.
The problem is that the baddies get all the best lines. The Greenpeace gang are earnest and forceful with the angels on their side. But, except for one big ballad, their numbers have the subtlety of a Russian revolutionary anthem praising the increase in tractor production. They are stirring, effective, well performed - and samey.
Meanwhile the Shell executives, John Major and German president Helmut Kohl, get tremendous dance moves, costume changes and tremendous comic songs. Ewan Somers’ turn as the famously boring Prime Minister is a highlight reminiscent of King George in Hamilton.
All credit to director/writers Isla Cowan and Andy McGregor for setting this David vs Goliath story to music. It’s just a shame that Goliath gets all the goodies.
To Save The Sea completed its run at Tron Theatre. It continues its tour until November 2, 2024. For further details, check Sleeping Warrior’s website.
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Photo by Mihaela Bodlovic.
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