Crocodile Rock continues at the Dining Room at Gilded Balloon Teviot until 31 August (not 18, 25).
Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Growing up in Millport in Great Cumbrae in the Firth of Clyde, Steven McPhail comes to recognise certain sexual urges which he realises are in keeping with neither his pub-owning family nor the island’s close-knit community.
It’s a piece about ‘coming out’, finding yourself and what a wonderful piece of theatre it is!
Though ostensibly a one-man show, the stage is filled with a host of characters all crisply delineated in Darren Brownlie’s bravura performance as he stumbles his way from teenage doubt to final self-realisation.
This is an astonishing, passionate performance. Brownlie’s vocal and emotional range is extraordinary: in the wink of an eye switching from tear-inducing pathos to belly-laugh comedy.
The script (by author, composer and director Andy McGregor) is perfectly structured, the direction crisply choreographed and the songs (almost sing-through) wonderful. All in the capable hands of onstage MD Hilary Brooks, who visibly enjoys Brownlie’s performance as much the audience does. She and Brownlie make a great team.
Despite a technical glitch at the beginning of the show, Brownlie’s easy presence had the audience in his lap within seconds.
I’d be very surprised if you’ll find a better performance on this year’s Fringe.
James Bryce
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