Only The Brave

The Edinburgh Fringe Festival is often used as a tryout for new musicals or musicals in development. One of the high profile ones this year is 'Only the Brave'. Inspired by true events we start at the beaches of Dunkirk with murder and mayhem. On the deck of a tiny fishing vessel the crew hearing the SOS go to assist with the evacuation of the beaches in June 1940, saving many soldiers and their wounded commanding officer John Coombes.

Time passes and the crew of the fishing vessel sign up in 1944 and join Coombes as he returns to active duty. The story is wound around these four, their families and friends journeys to far off France, love, loss, triumph and disaster.

It is beautifully staged with an extremely high quality cast all with superb singing voices and excellent acting ability. This company vary in experience from those making their professional debut, through those with several years touring and West End experiences along with two performers who have been through the TV audition process.  The book is sensitively written and shows what army training can do to a man it also shows some of the bewilderment felt by individuals from the British, French and German point of view. The original book and play is by Rachel Wagstaff and Stephen Coleman. Stephen co-wrote the lyrics with Matthew Brind who also wrote the music.

Warning this show had me sobbing from start to finish more than 'Les Miserables' and 'Miss Saigon' together.  I do however hope it goes on to tour the country and have some time in London’s West End. See it whilst you can before it becomes the next great new musical in the West End.

*****

Starring  Scotland's Own    Keith Jack    runner-up  from TV's "Any Dream Will Do"  and Niamh Perry 'I'd Do Anything' TV's search for Nancy.   For more information on the musical go to   www.onlythebrave.co.uk 

Sheila

Fringe Programme Page No

P  175

Company

Daniel Sparrow and Patrick Gracey

Venue Name and Number

Musical Theatre @ George Sq    V37

Dates and Times

31st  July  to  25th  August   18-15  to  19-30  

Comedy 2008

Music 2008

Others 2008

Theatre 2008

Musicals 2008

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