Daniel Evans couldn’t have chosen a better goodbye present to the theatre where he has had a glittering career as artistic director, than to give Chichester audiences a musical version of Local Hero that radiates a feel-good glow across the stage from the moment of its power-packed opening dance sequence.
Based on the Bill Forsyth film and book by David Greig, with music and lyrics by Mark Knopfler, it captures the warmth of the seafaring folk of the fictional village of Ferness in the Scottish Highlands.
In their happy state of poverty – their small fishing industry is struggling to survive – their future looks bleak until the arrival of Mac (Gabriel Ebert, an outstanding performance, and can he dance!) a brash American who wants to buy the village and build an oil refinery on it.
It is 1983, the height of under sea drilling for gas and oil, and Ferness has a vast oil field under its waves. The villagers are at first wary of him as Mac settles into the primitive conditions of the village hotel and uses the phone box on the harbour to ring his Houston office.
Sharp-talking accountant Gordon (Paul Higgins, a perky, powerful, performance) is the village spokesman and when he hears Mac’s millions of dollars offer to build a refinery that will obliterate Ferness, he is worried how they will react.
No need to worry, their reaction is overwhelming. ‘Sell the village, we want to be rich’ they sing, but ecologist-minded Stella (Lillie Flynn moving and feisty in the role) protests. She is backed by an old beachcomer, Ben (Hilton McRae with some fine comic acting), who could ruin the villagers’ wealthy plans, as he claims, through ancestral inheritance, he owns the beach.
As the fast talking Gordon works on Ben to accept a huge pay-out, Mac was also given another assignment by his stargazing boss, Mr Happer (Jay Villiers), to find a new comet in the Scottish skies and name it after him.
While falling in love with Stella and the village way of life, Mac, looking for a comet, is overpowered by the Aurora Borealis and realises no one will be able to see the Fermess night sky if the oil refinery is built.
While he battles with his conscience, we are treated to some rousing singing and dancing by the villagers – but it is the sound-shattering arrival of Mr Happer in his helicopter that changes the whole scenario, crushing Mac’s future hopes.
Richard John is musical director and this song-filled version is a fitting tribute to the inspired direction of Mr Evans as he leaves to take up his role as co-artistic director of the Royal Shakespeare Company. Local Hero runs until November 18.
Sheila Checkley