'Brigadoon' review — this exuberant revamp of the classic musical features passionate performances and knockout dancing

Read our review of Lerner and Loewe's Brigadoon, directed and choreographed by Drew McOnie, now in performances at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre to 20 September.

It’s a miracle! Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe’s largely forgotten 1947 musical Brigadoon, which I first encountered as a dud Celtic-kitsch Hollywood movie starring Gene Kelly and Cyd Charisse, has been ingeniously and gloriously revamped by director-choreographer Drew McOnie and Scottish playwright Rona Munro. Why, it’s almost like being in love.

The new story framing places us explicitly in the midst of the Second World War. Instead of wandering hunters, friends Tommy and Jeff are now American fighter pilots who crash-land in the Highlands. There a mysterious village emerges from the mist: thanks to a spell, it only appears for one day every 100 years, shielding it from the outside world.

It’s a brilliant way to ground the loopy fairy-tale plotting and explore more profound, poignant ideas – like how a traumatised combatant might crave enchanted escapism and have a warped sense of time. “We’ve only got today,” believes Tommy, so why not meet a girl, fall in love and consider sacrificing everything for her? Tomorrow isn’t promised.

McOnie’s detailed production balances this poetic, psychologically rich reading of Brigadoon with a realistic, lived-in village. Its bustling denizens are constantly in motion, gathering heather or collecting water in buckets from the onstage waterfall. Basia Biñkowska’s verdant set emphasises that they’re part of nature, living off the land – a theme that works perfectly in this park setting. Sami Fendall’s exquisite costumes are moorland earth tones with occasional pops of colour, like pink for the wedding of local lovebirds Jean and Charlie, bolstered by Jessica Hung Han Yun’s heady rose-gold light.

The exuberant company inject a shot of adrenaline into the show. Louis Gaunt’s ardent Tommy forms a believably intense soulmate connection with local girl Fiona, given lovely sincerity by Danielle Fiamanya (sharing the role with Georgina Onuorah). Jasmine Jules Andrews and Gilli Jones are a total delight as the adorably giggly, hungrily passionate young bride- and groom-to-be, and Jones in particular has a wonderful soaring voice.

Nic Myers is a sparky, man-eating Meg, who immediately sets her sights on Cavan Clarke’s wearily cynical Jeff. Anne Lacey’s village elder conjures primal forces while explaining the miracle of Brigadoon (it helps that the wind whistles through the trees as she speaks matter-of-factly about voices in the beyond – spine-tingling stuff).

Danny Nattrass lends an effective counterbalance to the charming whimsy as the tortured Harry, trapped in Brigadoon while pining hopelessly for Jean. His refusal to conform to this community, and the villagers’ forceful response, poses larger questions of individual versus collective freedom, and, while we’re in the shadow of war, how far you’re prepared to go to protect your way of life from any change – even if it’s partly a dream.

The songs are forgettable, apart from “Almost Like Being in Love”, but McOnie’s choreography is absolutely knockout. He embraces the lush romanticism by evoking Agnes De Mille’s lyrical Golden Age dances, and incorporates Scottish folk like a reel and sword dance (we also get accompanying bagpipes), while also infusing the whole thing with thrilling, contemporary expressiveness. His movement beautifully articulates character and emotion, from a pas de deux in which Jean partners a blindfolded but wholly trusting Charlie, to Chrissy Brooke dancing a solo encapsulating raw grief and unrequited yearning.

This remarkable revival gives us a glimmer of light in the darkness, and demonstrates how love is the biggest leap of faith of all.

Brigadoon is at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre to 20 September. Book Brigadoon tickets at LondonTheatre.co.uk.

Photo credit: Brigadoon (Photos by Mark Senior)