Review of Whisky Kisses at Perth Theatre

May 18 2010 by Alison Anderson, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

A GEM of a Scottish production entertained a good-size Perth Theatre audience for just one night in a merry musical romp by Forres-based Right Lines Production.

Whisky Kisses was conceived as a contender for a 2006 competition, Highland Quest, to find a new musical for Scotland.

Whisky Kisses didn’t win – it was runner-up – but glasses must be raised to its creators Euan Martin and Dave Smith for their determination to produce and tour this delightful musical – and cheers also to the input from lots of others, including music composer James Bryce, our own Ian Grieve (director), a pot pourri of funding bodies, a very talented eight-strong cast and hard-working musical director Karen MacIver.

Whisky Kisses is a cleverly written, thoroughly entertaining, and a little thought-provoking caper about a rare and ancient single malt whisky called The Glenigma, and about the quest to successfully bid for the last surviving bottle of its greatest-ever edition.

The Glenigma is a ‘must-buy’ for two competing international whisky collectors, big-shot New York financier Ben Munro and Japanese businessman Mr Yomo. They both reluctantly head for the Highlands because it is a condition of the sale of this unique bottle that bidders must attend the auction at the remote and run-down Glenigma distillery, which feisty Mary McGregor and her loyal staff have been trying to run since the death of her gambling-addicted father.

Whisky Kisses at first threatens to be a corny, musical version of Local Hero, but soon develops an identity of its own as, at a spanking pace, the money-men are won over by the Highlands and its residents.

Whisky Kisses is bursting with humour, sentiment and pathos – all in the right proportions – and energy, delivered by a quality and versatile cast. From a singing perspective, Alyth McCormack’s beautiful Gaelic air and an evocative mountain-top aria by Masashi Fujimotoa scaled the musical heights.

The only criticism of this production was the threat at times for the lyrics to be lost to over-loud instrumentation in some numbers.

It would be nice to think Whisky Kisses could return to Perth Theatre some time in the future to give a further opportunity for audiences to enjoy this uplifting, crowd-pleasing, home-bred musical.

Alison Anderson