Feeling restless are Finlay McKillop as The Wolfman and Kyle Gardiner as Clown in Restless Natives at His Majesty's Theatre. Image - Courtesy of Mihaela Bodlovic
It is 40 years since iconic Scottish film Restless Natives had its Aberdeen premiere but now Clown and The Wolfman have roared back into the Granite City – and this time it’s an all-singing, all-dancing affair.
And the musical version of this feel-good yarn of two latter day Robin Hoods certainly had the audience at His Majesty’s Theatre on their feet cheering and clapping at the triumphant finale.
It’s not just the Clown and The Wolfman who are back together – it’s the entire team who created the Restless Natives movie four decades ago now bringing it to the stage,
Ninian Dunnett reprises his witty and clever script, Michael Hoffman is back in the directors chair and Andy Paterson is on producing duties.
So, fans of the original movie – and there are very many - will be delighted to know they are in good hands for this fresh outing with creatives who know and love the story inside out.
On song... Finlay McKillop and Kirsty MacLaren in a scene from Restless Natives at His Majesty's. Image - Courtesy of Mihaela Bodlovic
Said story is fairly straightforward. Two Edinburgh teens stuck in dead-end jobs – Ronnie and Will – decide there’s rich pickings to be had holding up tourist coaches in the Highlands. Charmingly, though.
They end up being hailed as folk heroes as they throw cash out on the streets of struggling neighbourhoods while winning an international following for helping those in need. But all the time the police net is tightening around them.
But just how does that much-loved film story translate as a piece of musical theatre? How do they bring coaches and the famous Suzuki motorbike to the stage.
Quite nicely, actually, and with a fair degree of imagination on a simple set that stands in both for the Scottish wilds and an Edinburgh joke shop.
The songs come thick and fast – a mix of catchy and at times poignant original songs with music by Tim Sutton and lyrics by Ninian Dunnett, sitting alongside a sprinkling of Big Country numbers. That’s only fitting given the central role of the banger In A Big Country in the 80s film.
Dance numbers are a delight in Restless Natives. Image - Courtesy of Mihaela Bodlovic
And the dance numbers see the entire cast filling the stage with some high-energy moves. That includes one of the stand-out moments of the show, with a dance-off between boot-scootin’ Texas Rangers and traditional Scottish dance, complete with gestured insults, from the restless natives. It’s a hoot.
Okay, so that scene wasn’t in the film. But there are plenty that were – including the copper in the joke shop looking for ... if you know, you know.
All of this is delivered neatly by a talented ensemble cast. Kyle Gardiner and Finlay McKillop have excellent and believable chemistry as the two best mates, Ronnie and Will, and their ups and downs as the morph into Clown and The Wolfman. Kirsty MacLaren rounds out they young trio as the fiesty but wide-eyed believer that Scots heroes if old can still walk the hills today.
Sarah Galbraith as Texas Ranger Bender and Alan McHugh as Scottish Police Chief Inspector Baird form a partnership both in character and on stage that lifts their roles, adding a nice layer about the importance of opening your heart. Yeah, that didn’t happen in the film either.
The talented ensemble cast of Restless Natives. Image - Courtesy of Mihaela Bodlovic
In all the changes from screen to stage, one thing persists in Restless Natives – that subtle rallying cry of wanting the best for Scots and Scotland, first made in the turbulent Thatcher era when the film came out and still relevant in these uncertain times.
You could, of course, spend the whole evening trying to remember which bits are in the original and working out which characters have been changed for the theatre. But that would be missing the point.
Just sit back, relax, and enjoy an uplifting story with some great tunes and a wee blast of nostalgia to boot in a feel-good and funny new musical that is a loving tribute to the original film.
Restless Natives: The Musical is at His Majesty’s Theatre until Saturday, May24.
You can find more information and tickets here.
Review by Scott Begbie