Eden Court Theatre, Inverness and Open Book are proudly presenting Para Handy - A Voyage Round The Stories of Neil Munro, a major new stage version of Neil Munro's timeless Para Handy tales… Read more …
Weigh the anchor; check the engines and set sail for a rendezvous with the irrepressible Para Handy, captain of The Vital Spark, as he and his ramshackle crew's adventures are brought bang up to date in this this original 21st century production.
Catch up with Para Handy, his mate Dougie, engineer Macphail and cabin-boy Sunny Jim as they travel from a West Coast breakers' yard through the canals to the sea lochs of the Highlands and Islands. Brimming with wit and charm, this version of Neil Munro's stories bring back to life the lost world of the River Clyde in its hey-day; a time when its piers and harbours saw traffic of goods and supplies, day trippers 'going doon the watter' and the puffers bringing everything from coal to cows (and even the occasional cockatoo) to the people of the Highlands and Islands.
Playing the eponymous captain is Jimmy Chisholm - one of Scotland's most popular actors. You'll recognise him from the telly from High Road, Braveheart and Mrs Brown and from the theatre, he's been in Be Near Me and The Miracle Man (National Theatre of Scotland), The 39 Steps (London West End) and Macbeth and Trumpets and Raspberries (Lyceum, Edinburgh).
Para Handy is being written and directed by John Bett - recently seen on stage in the award-winning The Government Inspector and on the big screen in Tamara Drewe and The Golden Compass.The whole revels in language, and its hilarious misuse. The core company take what could be couthie stereotypes and give them real humanity. Great stuff all round.
When the whole thing picks up a bit of speed in the second half, there is much to enjoy. But if there was any interest in slimming down the two hours and forty minutes running time, you might start at the beginning.
It's utterly inessential, but performed with too much gusto to dislike.
The result, once things calm down, is a series of fruitily Runyonesque encounters, with the fly likes of Jimmy Yuill’s Hurricane Jack, whose courtship of Helen Mackay’s Janice Toner-like Peaches McGlumpher is played with relish.
If it wasn’t for the performers’ energy and feelgood spirit, it’d be easy for the whole thing to fall apart.
The greatest richness of this show, though, lies in its acting company, who bring such a wealth of experience to the stage that it’s a joy to watch them, as they sing, act, and work their audience with limitless skill and charm.
Although the cast were strong and entertaining, I could not help but think that less music, more comic dialogue and a stronger script could have made Para Handy: A Voyage Round the Stories of Neil Munro a more memorable show.
It all adds up to a thoroughly delightful feel-good romp that delivers gentle humour, some great songs, and will leave you still smiling for a long time after you exit the theatre.
Sure to leave any audience in relentless laughter.
It would benefit from more judicious editing and a little more plot but fans of Para Handy from previous iterations will find much to like here, and as a piece of nostalgic escapism it certainly fulfils its remit.
Out to rekindle a spark in Scottish theatre
New stage adaptation of Para Handy stories set for Scottish tour
A Voyage Around a Highland Icon
Eden Court Theatre, Inverness from Wednesday September 21, 2011, until Saturday September 24, 2011. More info: www.eden-court.co.uk
His Majesty's Theatre, Aberdeen from Tuesday September 27, 2011, until Saturday October 1, 2011. More info: www.hmtaberdeen.com
Theatre Royal, Glasgow from Tuesday October 4, 2011, until Saturday October 8, 2011. More info: www.theambassadors.com/theatreroyalglasgow/
Festival Theatre, Edinburgh from Thursday October 13, 2011, until Saturday October 15, 2011. More info: http://www.edtheatres.com/festival