Orphans @ King's Theatre, Edinburgh
Cora Bissett and Douglas Maxwell's musical adaption of Peter Mullan's film Orphans hits the right notes – sharp, funny and emotionally charged
The word on the streets of Glasgow is there’s a storm coming, and the skies above the Flynn siblings are suitably gloomy. Their beloved mother, the glue that held them together, has died and it’s her funeral tomorrow morning. But there’s a long night ahead before that.
The National Theatre Of Scotland's new production of Orphans – directed by Cora Bissett, with words from Douglas Maxwell – is a new Scottish musical based on the film by Peter Mullan. It is undeniably blunt, sharp, funny and emotionally charged. While those with ears easily offended by strong language (and we mean strong) might be better sitting this one out, you’re seriously missing out if you do. In brief, Orphans is brilliant.
Over the course of the night we follow the Flynn family – Sheila (Amy Conachan), Thomas (Robert Florence), Michael (Reuben Joseph) and John (Dylan Wood) – learning more about their lives and their fractured relationships with each other as they cross the city. With an impressive set designed by Emily James, we’re carried along seamlessly from the church where Thomas vows to keep watch all night, to the local boozer where a brawl sets Michael and John on a tense and violent path, and on to the neon-flashing, jumpin' (lemme hear you scream if you wanna go faster) fairground where Sheila wrestles for her independence.
The songs, written and composed by Roddy Hart and Tommy Reilly, are fresh, brilliantly infectious and delivered with appropriate punch from the talented cast. From Ram It, to Are You Gonny Take That? to What Happens Now, the lyrics are perfectly punctuated by the pacey choreography concocted by movement director, Vicki Manderson. Special kudos to the Paper Girls played by Betty Valencia, Chloe Hodgson, and Amber Sylvia Edwards, who are fantastically funny, energetic and well-timed in their deliveries.
The motto which rings out as morning finally nears is the anchor which holds the grieving siblings and the community around them together. And it’s a message which is especially poignant just now: the world may be dark at times, but “we’ll weather the storm together.”
Orphans, Kings Theatre, Edinburgh until 16 Apr; Eden Court, Inverness, 28-30 Apr
nationaltheatrescotland.com/events/orphans