The High Life: The Musical – Still Living It! at Dundee Rep Review
Written by David for Theatre and Tonic
Disclaimer: Tickets were gifted in return for an honest review. All views are our own
Today, a 30-year delay in the departure lounge would render a most displeased passenger — airlines rarely get top marks these days anyway — yet Thursday’s passengers from Dundee boarded the beloved Air Scotia (“Scotland’s best and only airline”) with uncontrollable excitement and pent-up laughter that erupted upon take-off, following the return of one of Scotland’s funniest but often-forgotten sitcoms: The High Life.
The 1990s BBC sitcom, which ran for only one series, returns in musical form with original cast members Alan Cumming, Forbes Masson, Siobhan Redmond, and Patrick Ryecart, and the same irresistible charm and campness that led to its cult following. Air Scotia is set to become the dreary Air GB under airline mogul Fran Fouter. Can the veteran cabin crew save it from ruin? Yes — but on a journey that’ll have you clutching at your oxygen mask.
As soon as Cumming and Masson burst onto the stage with sizable quiffs and one too many skooshes of fake tan, the audience greet crew members Sebastian and Steve with an almighty yet touching roar. Cumming and Masson remain an assured comedic duo on par with French & Saunders, and their off-stage friendship is felt throughout their comic timing, physicality, and delivery of their famous catchphrase, “Oh dearie me!” A nod to their alternate duo Victor and Barry, with a melodramatic piano number, celebrates a much-needed stage reunion for the pair.
Redmond equally commands the stage as the acerbic stewardess Shona Spurtle, entering via a Bond villain-esque number, growling, “I’m Shona.” Ryecart, as the Star Trek-obsessed Captain Duff (who does anything but stay in the cockpit), is another crowd-pleaser, donning various costumes that garner belly laughs from the audience. Comedian Louise McCarthy, as Steve’s long-lost lover Heather Argyll — the show’s unexpected antagonist — is a standout; her ‘pan loaf’ talk, combined with impeccable physical comedy, is truly praiseworthy.
Johnny McKnight’s script, with input from Cumming and Masson, is a juggernaut of Scottish humour, oozing with tasteful and suitably distasteful wackiness that leaves the audience gasping for breath. The plot is self-consciously frivolous — the tumultuous plane crash caused by the dreaded ‘Lower Largo Triangle’ and Argyll’s ginger-supremacy machinations, indeed, leave the audience scratching their heads, but it’s all in good fun. Aided by Masson’s surprisingly catchy music, McKnight shows that there is real comedic power behind the bonkers and bizarre when done right.
Rep Artistic Director Andrew Panton takes McKnight’s barmy script in his stride — his direction of the cast packs a punch. Panton ensures they push the script to its limits and display immeasurable campness as they gallop across every inch of the Rep stage.
Minor turbulence is forgiven — a few tiresome political quips and an overzealous scattering of metatheatrical comedy make for a bumpy ride at times. However, one thing is for sure: life isn’t tedious or mediocre with this fabulous fling through the skies.
An absolute triumph. Oh dearie me!
Playing for a limited tour, including its run at the Dundee Rep, which runs until 4 April. Further information, including how to book tickets, can be found here.
★★★★★
