The High Life

Eden Court Theatre, Inverness 29/4/26

Script and Lyrics by Alan Cumming, Forbes Masson and Johnny McKnight

Music by Forbes Masson, Additional Music by Alan Cumming

Directed by Andrew Panton

If you want to get away from the depressing state of the world news and you are missing pantomime then a flight on Air Scotia is just the thing. This new musical based on the original TV series is a hoot. I have never laughed so much at a show in Eden Court theatre since we moved up nine years ago.

This show is sold out at all four venues in Scotland, proving there is an appetite for this style of comedy storytelling. It is witty, energetic, camp and fun. Not having followed the original series I wondered if it would resonate. No problem. Having been a stewardess (they call them flight attendants now) myself for two years with Laker Airways out of Gatwick I related to all the characters. Particularly the scary chief ‘stew’ Shona Spurtle played by Siobhan Redmond and the suave older Captain Hilary Duff played by Patrick Ryecart. Classic stuff.

Of course, the two co-creators Alan Cumming and Forbes Masson playing Sebastian Flight and Steve McCracken are a tour de force. They are ‘pros’ of the first order and can hold the audience in the palm of their hand. They are not bad singers too. The supporting cast were spot on - playing various characters from passengers to cabin staff with energy throughout. A special mention for Kyle Gardiner playing Mylie, Rachel Kendall Brown as Kylie and Louise MacCarthy as Heather Argyle. Great character work and a standout physical comic stint from Ann Scott-Jones as Gretchen Betjerman.

The story, as such, takes place on board an Air Scotia departure, flight and crash with overtones of Rocky Horror and Brigadoon. References are too many to count, but I particularly loved the Sondheim. It is fun, preposterous and full of good songs performed by a talented ensemble. Backed by great five-piece band, this is an outrageous show for a Scottish audience. I even bought a T shirt! Things look well for the incoming artistic director of Pitlochry Festival Theatre,Alan Cumming. He is on a roll and hopefully he will bring this show next year. It deserves a second showing to catch all the gags!

photo credit: Tommy Ga-Ken-Wan