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Tutti Frutti **** LOVE and laughs and rock'n'roll are the order of the evening as John Byrne's rewrite for the stage of his hit 1987 TV comedy rolls into town. It is brilliantly written, performed and presented, as the Majestics attempt to get their own show back on the road after the tragic demise of lead singer, Big Jazza McLoan. Worse than the loss of a friend for the three remaining Majestics is the loss of their fellow band member, just as they are about to celebrate their Silver Jubilee tour. But their dodgy manager has a plan to recruit Big Jazza's not-exactly-wee brother, Danny, in his place. This zooms along, with Tom Urie stepping easily into the very large shoes of Robbie Coltrane as Danny, just back from New York and an innocent around town. Dawn Steele, meanwhile, is equally happy to take on the role Suzy Kettles, a sharp-tongued red-head Danny knew from Art School. It's the part that originally helped launch Emma Thomson. The Majestics, John McGlynn and Barrie Hunter as feeling-their-ages Dennis and Fud and Tam Dean Burn as the womanising, ever-young and fantastically quiffed Vincent, are impeccably turned out. Kenneth Bryans is superb as their long-suffering roadie, Dennis, and collectively they allow Danny to join them - much against their better judgement. Which is rather to the relief of John Ramage as smooth talking manager, Eddie Clockerty. With Julie Wilson Nimmo as his feisty secretary, Janice, and her succession of outrageously over-the-top Eighties outfits, they follow the band around the flea-pits of the Scottish rock'n'roll circuit - from Methil to Buckie and all points in between. It is hilarious stuff. The cast show off their abilities as comic actors, the dialogue is crisper than burnt bacon, the live music hits all the right notes and, thanks to an ingenious split-level set that allows the scenes to change with less than a flicker on the movable screen, the pace is nothing short of blistering. There is always the threat of a dark side to the writing, however. This does, after all, start with a funeral. The presence of Vincent's latest young conquest, newcomer Helen Mallon as the Mohicaned punkette, Glenna, on the tour coupled with the arrival of his wife, an excellent Pauline Knowles as Noreen, is just for starters. Somehow, without making it all too complex, Byrne and director Tony Cownie succeed in bringing a whole rainbow of relationships onto the stage. It boils down what was six, one-hour episodes down into a thoroughly entertaining evening's entertainment that has smash hit written all the way through it. Let's hope that the National Theatre of Scotland revives it sooner rather than later. If they do, this will surely run and run. Run ends Saturday From here |