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Lyrics - Alan J. Lerner
Opened - 1947
Main characters - Tommy, Fiona, Jeff, Meg, Jean, Charlie, Harry
Plot - Brigadoon is a magical Scottish village which only appears deep in the Scottish highlands for a day every 100 years after a miracle occured to preserve the village throughout the future. Tommy and Jeff are 2 American hikers who lose their way and see Brigadoon appear out of the mist. They are free to leave again, but if any of the villagers leave it will end the miracle. Tommy and Jeff arrive on the wedding day of Jean and Charlie. Jean's ex-boyfriend, Harry, is still in love with her. Tommy meets Jeans sister, Fiona, and they fall in love when they go to collect heather for the wedding, even though Tommy is already engaged. Jeff meets a girl called Meg who has always been unlucky with men before.
During the wedding celebrations Harry says he'll leave the village, and there is a chase. Harry is found dead having been accidentally shot by Jeff, but his death is kept secret for the rest of the wedding night. As the sun goes down on the forest Tommy tells Fiona that he can't leave her, but he is then convinced by Jeff to return to America. Tommy tells Fiona he must but they affirm their love. Fiona vanishes into the mist, her voice growing fainter, as she vows her love. Brigadoon is gone, and they return to America. A few months later Tommy calls of his engagements and decides to return to the highlands. Brigadoon appears to have vanished, but then the schoolmaster appears out of the mist, woken by the strength of Tommy's love for Fiona, and Tommy is able to return to Brigadoon.
Songs (With marks out of 10) -
1.Prologue (10)
(Average - 9.31, Overall score - 309)
2.Brigadoon (10)
3.Down in Macconnachy Square (10)
4.Waitin' for my dearie (10)
5.I'll go home with Bonnie Jean (9)
6.The heather on the hill (10)
7.The love of my life (9)
8.Jeannie's packing up (8)
9.Almost like being in love (10)
10.Entracte (9)
11.Come to me, bend to me (10)
12.Sword dance and Reel (8)
13.The Chase (7)
14.There but for you go I (10)
15.My mothers weddin' day (9)
16.From this day on (10)
Favourite song - There but for you go I
Favourite character - Tommy
Favourite lines -
"The mist of May is in the gloaming, and all the clouds are holding still,
so take my hand and lets go roaming through the heather on the hill."
- Tommy and Fiona, on their way past the valley of trees, 'The heather on the hill'
"Maybe the sun gave me the power, for I could swim Loch Lomund and be home in half an hour.
Maybe the air gave me the drive, for I'm all aglow and alive!"
- Tommy, after a stroll through the heather with Fiona, 'Almost like being in love'
"I saw a man walking by the sea, alone with the tide was he. I looked, and I thought, as I
watched him go by, there but for you go I."
- Tommy, with Fiona on their lasy evening together, 'There but for you go I'
Comment - I bought Brigadoon on a whim, not expecting something from the 1940's to be much good. How amazed I was when it turned out to be some of the most beautiful and gorgeous music I've heard. I was stunned that such lovely songs had been written so long ago. Brigadoon is the most magical musical I own. It's totally enchanting, and such a great idea to have a village cut off from the rest of the world which only fleetingly appears. I just can't wait to see the film if I ever get hold of it!
I have finally found the film, and it lives up to my expectations! It's just lovely, and the only small complaint is that it doesn't contain 'There but for you go I'.