Review:c Towards the Moon, C (Venue 34)

By David Pollock
Published on 27/08/2012 15:11

One of three shows at this year’s Fringe by the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland’s One Academy Productions, Andrew McGregor’s Towards the Moon is a creditable and entertaining stab at creating a bold, West End-style musical rooted firmly within the typical Scots working-class experience.

* * *

It tells of Bobby Rafferty, 24, who loses his job and his girlfriend and gets hit by a car, only for his unconscious guardian angel visions to lead him to fulfil his dream, to write a great novel. This is some turnaround for an inveterate waster. It’s a raw effort, but in the bright performances and in McGregor’s engaging and witty songs there’s much to recommend, including a nice build-up of drama in the love triangle between Bobby, his ex, Mandy, and the best friend who starts dating her while he’s comatose.

In his adventurous friend Mags, Bobby also finds a dream of escape personified, although in typical fashion, all he had dreamed of is not what he ends up getting.

Until tomorrow. Tomorrow, noon.