Brigadoon: The Scottish Love Story
A play about tradition, love and magic: welcome to Brigadoon!When two New York men, Tommy Albright and Jeff Douglas, decide to take a hunting trip to the Highlands of Scotland, the unexpected happens. While wandering through the forest, they find Brigadoon. This Scottish village has a secret; the villagers only live one day every 100 years.
“It’s a magical exploration of transcendent love and a struggle to maintain innocence,” Director Bernadette Cheyne said.
Cheyne said she has Scottish heritage, which is why this story appeals to her. She helped the cast improve the dialogue and adherence to Scottish traditions to make this production as believable as possible.
“This is the most complicated production I have ever directed,” she said. “The songs are huge and the movement is complex. It makes it that much more beautiful.”
The play is filled with classic songs and choreography characterizing Scottish tradition. The song, “Almost Like Being in Love,” in Act I, was recorded by famous artists Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Judy Garland, Nat King Cole, Natalie Cole and James Taylor.
Miles Raymer plays Tommy Albright, the New York big-shot with a socialite fiancee and the world in his hands. Albright is not happy though, and feels like something is missing.
When the travelers are taken in by the people of Brigadoon, Albright meets Fiona MacLarenand and falls in love. A dilemma forms. Albright must choose between his New York social life and his newfound love.
“He’s a guy who desperately wants something to believe in,” Raymer said. “He ends up discovering that belief is more important than reality or logic.”
Brandy Rose is a senior vocal performance music major. Her character, Fiona MacLaren, represents the hope of the community in Brigadoon. “She conforms to the archetype of the ingenue in that she is innocent, lovely, kind and falls in love with the hero of the musical,” Rose said.
Fiona must choose between her village and her newfound love for Tommy, but if someone leaves the village, Brigadoon will disappear forever, including everyone living within Brigadoon.
“Fiona possesses a characteristic unique to other ingenues I have portrayed in the past: she is strong willed,” Rose said. The actors added their own touches to their characters, while still staying true to the original characteristics. “The way I choose to interpret the role of Fiona is probably more independent and less passive than Lerner and Lowe intended in 1947,” she said.
Ashley Adams, a senior geography student, plays extra Maggie Anderson. “This is a typical boy meets girl story, but they only have one day together,” she said.
Adams is also the technical dance captain and makes sure each performer knows the choreography and movement involved in the play. “Being able to act, sing and dance all in one package is a really great experience,” she said.
Brigadoon will be playing in the Van Duzer Theatre Oct. 13 through 15 and 20 through 22. The shows are at 7:30 p.m. with two matinee showings on Oct. 16 and 23 at 2 p.m.
Cheyne encourages people to come see the magic for themselves. “The story is as relevant now as it was when it was first produced and it still speaks to modern audiences,” she said. “The themes of this show are universal.”
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Issue Date:
Wed, 2011-10-12 
