Susan Boyle and Elaine C. Smith deliver Dream performances in Aberdeen
Standing ovations all round for Boyle and Smith as I Dreamed a Dream proves a delight for Scottish fans.
04 April 2012 09:54 GMT
There can be very few people on the planet who have not heard of the phenomenon that is Susan Boyle and her "ugly duckling" to global superstar story. She has received 500 million hits on YouTube, has broken musical records previously held by the Beatles, has sung for the Pope and now has her very own musical.
I Dreamed a Dream - The Susan Boyle Musical played its first Scottish date at His Majesty's Theatre in Aberdeen on Tuesday and was met with a standing ovation not only for star actress, Elaine C. Smith, but also for Susan Boyle herself, who thrilled the audience with two musical numbers at the close of the show.
Written by two of its stars, Smith and Alan McHugh, Susan Boyle has described it as an honest portrayal of her life. It does not focus solely on Boyle's appearance on Britain's Got Talent, the TV talent show that catapulted her to fame, but rather tells her story from the very beginning, allowing the audience to get to know the real Susan behind the tabloid image.
Smith manages to convey Boyle's character with such warmth and authenticity that you feel you could almost be sitting with Boyle herself having a chat over a cup of tea and a biscuit.
Perhaps most famously known for playing Mary Nesbitt in the hit sitcom Rab C Nesbitt and more recently for starring in pantomime at His Majesty's Theatre, Smith's mannerisms, comic timing and even her walk are so accurate that the audience would be forgiven for thinking it was Boyle herself on stage. When asked previously who she would wish to play her in a film of her life, Boyle had named Smith, and it is clear from her performance that this is perfect casting. In addition, Smith's powerful singing voice is spine-tingling at times with her performance of Wild Horses being a particular highlight.
The story tells of Boyle's close-knit family, her early foray into singing at school and of her first boyfriend. It also does not shy away from the more upsetting parts of her life - such as the torment she experienced due to bullying and her struggle to deal with the paparazzi and the pressures of fame. Most importantly, it sensitively handles the devastating loss of her parents and sister. The beautiful song Returnperfectly encapsulates Boyle's feelings of pain and loss and the performance of this by Smith is both subtle and extremely moving.
However, there are also laughs aplenty along the way, with humour that will particularly strike a chord with Scottish audiences. The number Stuck in the Middle with You, portraying Boyle's experience behind the scenes of Britain's Got Talent is not only a perfectly timed and executed routine but is also hysterically funny.
The reaction to Boyle's performance on the show is conveyed by showing clips of the judges' reaction and news footage from the time on dozens of TV screens behind the actors. This highlights the huge impact that TV has had on Boyle's life, whilst also serving as an ever-changing backdrop to the action.
Boyle's story has been deftly handled with warmth, sensitivity and humour. The joke is never on Boyle, but rather the audience is allowed a glimpse of her natural sense of humour and the many highs and lows she endured on her road from church volunteer to critically-acclaimed singing sensation.
I Dreamed a Dream is that rare tale in today's culture - one of an unlikely superstar that enjoys global success purely as a result of her very real talent. One character suggests that much of the adulation poured on Boyle was perhaps a form of an apology from the public for judging her too quickly. This may indeed be true and ought to give audiences pause for thought. That and a reminder of what can happen if you dream.
I Dreamed a Dream - The Susan Boyle Musical runs at His Majesty's Theatre until Saturday, April 7. Boyle is expected to appear at all performances.
I Dreamed a Dream - The Susan Boyle Musical played its first Scottish date at His Majesty's Theatre in Aberdeen on Tuesday and was met with a standing ovation not only for star actress, Elaine C. Smith, but also for Susan Boyle herself, who thrilled the audience with two musical numbers at the close of the show.
Written by two of its stars, Smith and Alan McHugh, Susan Boyle has described it as an honest portrayal of her life. It does not focus solely on Boyle's appearance on Britain's Got Talent, the TV talent show that catapulted her to fame, but rather tells her story from the very beginning, allowing the audience to get to know the real Susan behind the tabloid image.
Smith manages to convey Boyle's character with such warmth and authenticity that you feel you could almost be sitting with Boyle herself having a chat over a cup of tea and a biscuit.
Perhaps most famously known for playing Mary Nesbitt in the hit sitcom Rab C Nesbitt and more recently for starring in pantomime at His Majesty's Theatre, Smith's mannerisms, comic timing and even her walk are so accurate that the audience would be forgiven for thinking it was Boyle herself on stage. When asked previously who she would wish to play her in a film of her life, Boyle had named Smith, and it is clear from her performance that this is perfect casting. In addition, Smith's powerful singing voice is spine-tingling at times with her performance of Wild Horses being a particular highlight.
The story tells of Boyle's close-knit family, her early foray into singing at school and of her first boyfriend. It also does not shy away from the more upsetting parts of her life - such as the torment she experienced due to bullying and her struggle to deal with the paparazzi and the pressures of fame. Most importantly, it sensitively handles the devastating loss of her parents and sister. The beautiful song Returnperfectly encapsulates Boyle's feelings of pain and loss and the performance of this by Smith is both subtle and extremely moving.
However, there are also laughs aplenty along the way, with humour that will particularly strike a chord with Scottish audiences. The number Stuck in the Middle with You, portraying Boyle's experience behind the scenes of Britain's Got Talent is not only a perfectly timed and executed routine but is also hysterically funny.
The reaction to Boyle's performance on the show is conveyed by showing clips of the judges' reaction and news footage from the time on dozens of TV screens behind the actors. This highlights the huge impact that TV has had on Boyle's life, whilst also serving as an ever-changing backdrop to the action.
Boyle's story has been deftly handled with warmth, sensitivity and humour. The joke is never on Boyle, but rather the audience is allowed a glimpse of her natural sense of humour and the many highs and lows she endured on her road from church volunteer to critically-acclaimed singing sensation.
I Dreamed a Dream is that rare tale in today's culture - one of an unlikely superstar that enjoys global success purely as a result of her very real talent. One character suggests that much of the adulation poured on Boyle was perhaps a form of an apology from the public for judging her too quickly. This may indeed be true and ought to give audiences pause for thought. That and a reminder of what can happen if you dream.
I Dreamed a Dream - The Susan Boyle Musical runs at His Majesty's Theatre until Saturday, April 7. Boyle is expected to appear at all performances.
Review by Kirsty Doull
OH BOY(LE)
- Watch Susan's BGT audition in the video player above
- Video tour of Susan Boyle's hometown Blackburn
- Fans travel from all over the world to see I Dreamed a Dream
