ORPHANS – National Theatre of Scotland (Download)
Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Orphans is a darkly comic musical about family grief and forgiveness, based on the much-loved cult film written and directed by Peter Mullan, and features songs with music and lyrics by Glaswegian composing team Roddy Hart and Tommy Reilly. Together they have written the score for the film Our Ladies, the music and lyrics for the zombie comedy film Anna and the Apocalypse, and for Steven Spielberg’s revival of Animaniacs, winning a Daytime Emmy award for Best Original Song for an Animation.
The Original Cast Recording presents all 23 songs from the new musical, performed by the original cast. Set in 1998, Orphans follows the Flynn siblings on a stormy night in Glasgow after the death of their mother. Thomas won’t leave the church, Michael is bleeding and roaming the streets, John has a gun and is set on revenge while Sheila wants to live life on her own terms. But will the siblings survive the night to get to their mother’s funeral?
The cast includes: Robert Florence, Amy Conachan, Reuben Joseph, Dylan Wood, Harry Ward, Amber Sylvia Edwards, Louise McCarthy, John McLarnon, Patricia Panther, Paul McCole, Martin Quinn, Chloe Hodgson, Betty Valencia, Daniella Faakor Damptey and Charlie West.
To say this is a great piece of theatre would be a huge understatement. It is gritty, raucous, full of dark humour but, at the same time, heartfelt. You are transported to the streets and tenements of Glasgow with nothing held back. The cast are exemplary and, although I haven’t actually seen the production, I feel as if I have. They bring the whole thing to life, each and every one of them. I honestly can’t single anyone out – this is a true ensemble piece, with each artist bringing their character to full-bodied life. Of course, having said that, you would maybe not play this to your elderly aunt, as there is quite a bit of swearing in there – that’s what helps make it real!
Tracks are: ‘Lullaby’, ‘What Happens Now?’, ‘Every C*nt Should Love Every C*nt’, ‘Safe With You’, ‘Accidents Can Happen (refrain)’, ‘A Storm Is Coming’, ‘Ram It’, ‘One of Us’, ‘Accidents Can Happen’, ‘Picking Up the Pieces’, ‘Are You Gonnae Take That?’, ‘Scream If You Wanna Go Faster’, ‘Time is Time’, ‘Ram It Again’, ‘Why Fight It?’, ‘Right Where You Belong’, ‘Up to Me’, ‘That’s Not What I’m Fighting For’, ‘Admit It’, ‘So This is the Storm’, ‘I Want My Mammy’, ‘Fallen’ and ’What Happens Now?’ (reprise).
I have now listened to this piece five times and I am still not in the least bit bored with it – if I could give more than five stars then I definitely would. Totally, unequivocally recommended.
Nick Wakeham
www.ntsorphans.ffm.to/originalcastrecording
Readers may also be interested in:
Review: Orphans – King’s Theatre, Edinburgh and Touring
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