Theatre review: The Gang Show, King's Theatre

Published on Wednesday 18 November 2009 09:20

THE Gang Show is uniform. It adheres faithfully to the guidelines first laid down by creator Ralph Reader in the early thirties and followed by Scout troops all over the world since.

The Edinburgh Gang Show is celebrating 50 years of musical numbers, sketches and the ribbing of local institutions, including that highly esteemed bastion of integrity the Evening News, at the King's Theatre this week.

Combining the talents of the region's Guide and Scout movements, the show gives 250 youngsters the chance to hone their performance skills.

Supported by 100 adults behind the scenes, the production's size is awe-inspiring. There are endless costume changes, set transformations and dizzyingly complex arrangements of folk on stage.

There are snippets of ballet, tap, Scottish country dancing, Queen, Wicked, Alesha Dixon and bagpiping, along with self-penned comedy sketches and a disturbingly well executed Susan Boyle take off by Scout Leader Timmy Drew.

In fact, it's the sort of revue show that the judges of Britain's Got Talent pray will waltz through their door every time they rock up for auditions.

Yet there was a lack of vibrancy to last night's performance. And while much of it was due to opening night nerves, there seemed an underlying lack of engagement from cast and audience in the show's first half.

Commencing with Reader's Jamboree Overture and traditional opening song We've Come So Far, the ensemble greeted the audience somewhat hesitantly. While their adaptation of the latter's lyrics to suit the occasion were snappy and playful, the timing seemed laboured and many of the dancers lacked certainty in the choreography.

Keeping the pre-interval show on track, a youthful team of good all-rounders from the Scout Network and Scout and Guide Leaders had the Cubs and Brownies following their confident lead. Particularly in the Football Crazy skit, in which coach Andrew Webster has the unenviable task of convincing his losing football team to take on a secret weapon.

Post interval, there was a distinct sharpening of the production's teeth. The musical numbers became tighter, the jokes had the younger members of the crowd roaring with laughter and the dance routines gelled. The cast's interaction with the audience also increased, and with it the punters' applause.

Where the performers excelled was in the delivery of their own material. Iain Fisher's grumpy, disreputable Morningside Lady and Louise McLaren's aging amateur actress stood out for their wry, well observed wit. A medley of Proclaimers hits and an ensemble rendition of Queen's Somebody To Love contributed to a cracking final 30 minutes.

One wonders, however, where the modern Scout movement is represented in this show. There is a distinct lack of evolution about The Gang Show that, with so many tricks up members' sleeves, doesn't do the movement justice. There are reports of pre-Reader Scout revues featuring circus tricks and displays of that perennial favourite, knot tying; surely there's room on any good modern scout's shirt alongside the archery and the singing for a badge in fire-breathing too?

'There were some excellent sketches'

J Ray Weeks, 44, former Scout, Ratho: "Aww bless their little cotton legwarmers. The kids were brilliant. I loved We're the Kids of The Future and the second half had a couple of excellent sketches."

Amy Lyell, 34, former Brownie, Clermiston: "They all did really well. The littlest ones must have been really nervous but they didn't have to worry at all because everyone did a fantastic job."

Christie Harrison, 17, former Rainbow and Brownie, Piershill: "I'd liked to have seen something a bit more up to date to be honest.Where was McFly and Snow Patrol?"

Terry Henson, 74, retired, Ballgreen: "We very much enjoyed the It's Mince to be Scottish routine and the Desert Island sketch. There was something quite Pythonesque to it."