Theatre review: Whisky Kisses

Published on Wednesday 19 May 2010 11:38

Whisky Kisses Brunton Theatre * * * *

LAST night's opening of Whisky Kisses, by Right Lines Productions, has been five years in the making, having first emerged as a contender for the Highland Quest competition for a new Scottish musical back in 2005.

The story centres on two high-powered international whisky enthusiasts, and their pilgrimage to the home of the dram in hope of landing the final bottle of Glenigma, put up for auction by local distillery owner Mary in an attempt to salvage something from her bankrupt business.

Vying for the coveted malt are hot-shot New York financier Ben Munro, desperately seeking the missing link in his vast collection, and Mr Yomo from Japan, sent off to Scotland by his dying father in pursuit of the fabled bottle.

There are laughs aplenty early on, mostly at the expense of Ben – confidently portrayed here by George Drennan – as he begins to realise his hopelessly romantic perception of Scottish culture amounts to nothing more than a one-dimensional stereotype.

Kinny Gardner is also worth a mention in his role as Ben's PA, the charismatic and likeable Jeff, whose opinions on the Highland community begin to change after he attracts the attentions of one of the locals.

There's also a flicker of romance which develops between Ben and Mary – the latter impressing with her angelic voice on a number of occasions – but in all honesty these relationships don't really go anywhere despite the potential for further exploration within the lengthy script.

The sheer energy and enthusiasm invested by the whole cast, however, is evident from the outset, and while the acting offers less of a spectacle than the songs, not one of the eight-strong cast lets the side down. The lively musical arrangement by Karen McIver also nicely compliments the more quirky moments and creates a real sense of continuity throughout.

While the first act is full of vitality, this doesn't carry over into the second half. To the writers' credit, what emerges is a more challenging and thought-provoking exploration of the delicate nature of culture and tradition, concluding that once they disappear no amount of money or preservation can bring them back.

As the programme says, like any good malt, Whisky Kisses has required time to mature. It was worth the wait.

Run ended