"Brigadoon" - by Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe - Concord Players (Concord, MA.) - REVIEW
(Cover Photo: The CAST of the musical "BRIGADOON" by Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe, presented by Concord Players in Concord, MA. now playing through May 9, 2026 , 2026. Photo Credit: Sue Flint)
By Kevin T. Baldwin
METRMAG Reviewer
# 774-242-6724
“You'll never find peace by hating, lad. It only shuts ye off more from the world. And this town is only a cursed place, if ye make it so."
- ("Andrew Campbell") / Alan Jay Lerner, Frederick Loewe
Concord Players
Presents the Lerner and Loewe Musical
"BRIGADOON"
Book and Lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner
Music by Frederick Loewe
Directed and Choreographed by Caroline Fonseca
Music Director Martha Warren
Cast Includes: Elyse Brown as “Ensemble/Sword Dancer, ” Samantha Casale as “Jean MacLaren, ” Avery Clements as “Ensemble, ” Beth Nolan Conners as “Ensemble, ” Jamie Cook as “Meg Brockie, ” Kevin Dibble as “MacGregor/Frank the Bartender, ” Dan Dowling, Jr. as “Mr. Lundie, ” Elan Fisher as “Harry Beaton, ” Ian Flynn as “Sandy/Sword Dancer, ” Michael Gravante as “Angus MacGuffie, ” Ben Hardt as “Andrew MacLaren, ” Katie Iafolla as “Ensemble/Sword Dancer/Dance Captain, ” Madeleine Jenness as “Ensemble/Sword Dancer, ” Mike Lague as “Archie Beaton, ” Amanda Leigh as “Maggie, ” Joshua Mauro as “Ensemble, ” Nick McKinnon as “Charlie Dalrymple, ” Aiden O'Neal as “Jane Ashton, ” Kristen Sehn as “Featured Soloist—Soprano, ” Bryan Smith as “Tommy Albright, ” Faith Sporbert as “Ensemble, ” Ari Stillman as “Ensemble/Sword Dancer, ” Dana R. Sullivan as “Fiona MacLaren, ” Andrew Swansburg as “Stuart Dalrymple/Sword Dancer, ” Josh Telepman as “Jeff Douglas, ” Chris Vander Rhodes as “Featured Soloist—Alto, ” Chet Williams as “Featured Soloist—Bass.”
Additional Creative Team:
Producers - Denise Casale, Kathy Lague; Stage Manager - Ben Cantor-Adams; Assistant Stage Manager - Bill Fisher; Set Design - Allen Bantly, Ava Enoch; Set Dressing - Allen Bantly, Anne Bantly, Ava Enoch; Lighting Design - Rick Shamel; Sound Design - Chris Brousseau; Costume Design - Tracy Wall; Properties - Anne Bantly; Hair and Makeup Design - Cara Guappone; Backstage Running Crew - Ava Enoch, Bill Fisher, Kleanthis Zymaris.
Performances:
April 24, 2026 through May 9, 2026
(Contact Box Office for Exact Times)
All performances to be held at 51 Walden Street, Concord, MA. 01742
TICKETS:
Call # 978 369-2990 or visit https://concordplayers.org/
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COVID 19 PROTOCOLS
Contact Venue for Most Updated COVID-19 Safety Protocols and Information.
(Warning: The following review contains spoilers)
(Note: This review is of a final dress rehearsal on 04-22-2026)
Concord Players romps through the heather in the hills with the iconic and still charming musical "BRIGADOON."
Featuring a book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner with a memorable score by Frederick Loewe, "BRIGADOON" centers on two American buddies touring Scotland and who stumble upon a mysterious Scottish village that only emerges from the Highland mists for one day every 100 years.
As one of the men falls in love with a young woman from "BRIGADOON," his traveling companion only sees catastrophe resulting from their encounter.
"BRIGADOON" has many memorable musical numbers executed well by the Concord Players’ cast and ensemble, including "Almost Like Being in Love," "I'll Go Home with Bonnie Jean," "There But For You Go I" and "The Heather on the Hill."
"BRIGADOON" debuted on Broadway in 1947 and ran for 581 performances, winning the New York Drama Critics' Circle Award for Best Musical and with Agnes de Mille winning a Tony Award for best choreography.
Two Broadway revivals occurred (both again choreographed by the legendary De Mille, one in 1963 and one in 1981) and, in 1954, a film adaptation was made starring Gene Kelly, Van Johnson and Cyd Charisse.
(Photo: Josh Telepman as “Jeff Douglas" with Bryan Smith as “Tommy Albright" in a scene from the musical "BRIGADOON" by Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe, presented by Concord Players in Concord, MA. now playing through May 9, 2026 , 2026. Photo Credit: Sue Flint)
Oh, sure – we could get into discussions of how dated the "BRIGADOON" story is with archaic views on men, women and relationships – but for this one, let’s not, okay?
Besides, the inspired musical parody “Schmigadoon!” handles those topics far more succinctly.
Though the Highland village of "BRIGADOON" is fictional, it is supposedly named after the (Lowland) “Brig o' Doon,” a bridge located south of Alloway, Ayrshire, Scotland.
As the Concord Players' story unfolds, New Yorkers Tommy (Bryan Smith) and Jeff (Josh Telepman) are vacationing together in the Scottish Highlands to do some game-hunting.
Understanding there might be some animal rights anti-hunting advocates out there who we may have already lost after that above statement, we’ll continue.
Smith and Telepman have fine chemistry on stage as two friends seeming to be two sides of the same coin – Jeff appears content with his life but it comes devoid of any substance, while Tommy appears to have everything anybody could want…but is discontent.
Both actors give fine performances as the men who are lost and trying to find their way, not only literally but figuratively, emotionally...and perhaps even spiritually.
(Photo: Dana R. Sullivan as “Fiona MacLaren” with Bryan Smith as “Tommy Albright" in a scene from the musical "BRIGADOON" by Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe, presented by Concord Players in Concord, MA. now playing through May 9, 2026 , 2026. Photo Credit: Sue Flint)
Tommy and Jeff suddenly hear a choir of voices singing, coming from a nearby village that does not appear on their map of the area (...because why not, right? I mean, one always hears chorale sounding music randomly coming from the middle of a massive forest.)
Crossing a bridge, the men stumble into the village of "BRIGADOON" where we are treated to the ensemble as villagers who are all enjoying themselves at a fair, celebrating and preparing for an importing upcoming wedding, all taking place in the song "McConnachy Square," a delightful way to open the show (after ten minutes of exposition).
The villagers Tommy and Jeff encounter all appear to be attired in traditional (as in “archaic”) Scottish tartan.
High praise indeed extended to the costuming team for the resplendent and authentic Scottish attire worn in the Concord Players' production.
Tommy and Jeff meet villager Andrew MacLaren (Ben Hardt) and his daughters, Fiona (Dana R. Sullivan) and Jean (Samantha Casale), who are at the fair to purchase supplies for younger daughter Jean's wedding to Charlie Dalrymple (Nick McKinnon).
(Photo: The CAST of the musical "BRIGADOON" by Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe, presented by Concord Players in Concord, MA. now playing through May 9, 2026 , 2026. Photo Credit: Sue Flint)
There is an instant spark between Tommy and Fiona, perfectly conveyed between Smith and Sullivan throughout the show.
Sullivan and Casale provide exemplary performances as the MacLaren siblings, with Sullivan absolutely nailing the Fiona songs “Waitin’ for My Dearie” sung with the ensemble and “The Heather on the Hill” and “Almost Like Being in Love” sung with Smith.
Similar enjoyable chemistry comes from Casale as Jean with McKinnon as Charlie, although the character of Jean seems to be written more to provide more reactions to everyone else on stage rather than actually be given anything to do of substance, which is unfortunate and certainly not the fault of the actress.
McKinnon showcases his remarkable singing prowess on the "BRIGADOON" songs “I’ll Go Home with Bonnie Jean” supported by the enthusiastic ensemble, and with the more subdued ballad, “Come To Me, Bend To Me” as Charlie professing his love for and to Jean.
Also observed at the fair are Archie Beaton (Mike Lague) and his son Harry (Elan Fisher).
In a fine performance by Fisher, Archie feels nothing but animosity and hostility toward Jean – and for some reason the entire village - for Jean not loving him and marrying Charlie.
Kudos to the earnest attempts made by the cast for the Scottish accents used.
Jeff soon is “spirited” away by high-spirited dairymaid Meg Brockie (Jamie Cook) who immediately falls for Jeff and takes him (forcefully) to a nearby forest shack with a cot where he can "rest, dearie, rest."
The adversarial relationship between Jeff and Meg is marvelously rendered by Telepman and Cook, with Cook expertly executing the whirlwind of a musical number, "The Love of My Life," detailing Meg’s various encounters with men.
(Photo: Samantha Casale as “Jean MacLaren,” Dan Dowling, Jr. as “Mr. Lundie” and Nick McKinnon as “Charlie Dalrymple" in a pivotal moment from the musical "BRIGADOON" by Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe, presented by Concord Players in Concord, MA. now playing through May 9, 2026 , 2026. Photo Credit: Sue Flint)
Soon the mystery of "BRIGADOON" is revealed to Tommy and Jeff and the two men must help the village avert a serious threat to its existence – or Tommy may lose Fiona to the mists of time forever.
The set design for "BRIGADOON" is quite impressive, allowing for fluid set changes throughout, with an extension used stage right for the “Heather on the Hill” scene and other moments in the show.
A somewhat surprising standout number also comes in the start of Act Two with “The Chase” usually staged for dramatic effect only but here, as performed by the Concord Players male ensemble, it is supplemented by simply superb vocal harmonies.
The musical’s Act One staging reaches its apex with the Act One finale as the neighboring clans all emerge for the wedding.
Showcasing various traditional celebratory wedding dances, the sequence includes sword dancing and more, all augmented by the inclusion of an authentic bagpiper.
Occasionally, musical numbers such as “…Bonnie Jean,” “Waitin’ for My Dearie” and “Jeannie's Packin' Up” become impacted by too many bodies on stage with not enough room for dancers to perform some of the moves.
Other notable performances include Ben Hardt as the McLaren patriarch and Dan Dowling, Jr. as “Mr. Lundie” who is the village’s wise, elder schoolmaster (or "dominie"), also serving as guardian and keeper of the lore of "BRIGADOON" asked by Fiona to explain the rules of the magical, time-shifting village to Tommy and Jeff once their secret is discovered.
(Photo: The CAST of the musical "BRIGADOON" by Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe, presented by Concord Players in Concord, MA. now playing through May 9, 2026 , 2026. Photo Credit: Sue Flint)
For this fine Concord Players' staging, skillfully directed and choreographed by Caroline Fonseca, the strength of the "BRIGADOON" story ultimately rests on a theme of love eternal.
The story illuminates how one person who seemingly has everything can still find themselves wanting…but not quite knowing wanting what.
This person is searching for something – love – REAL love - and finding it in truly the unlikeliest of places – within the soft and unsophisticated embrace of a small Scottish village lost – no, sacrificed - to time.
Make sure to catch Concord Players' wonderful production of the Lerner and Loewe musical "BRIGADOON" before it vanishes once more into the mist in Concord, MA. after May 9th, 2026.
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Approximately three hours with one intermission.
Kevin T. Baldwin is a member of the American Theatre Critics Association (ATCA)
@MetrmagReviews
@Theatre_Critics
ABOUT THE SHOW
When New Yorkers Tommy Albright and Jeff Douglas get lost on a vacation in the Scottish Highlands, they stumble upon "BRIGADOON."
"BRIGADOON" is a mythical village that, they learn, appears for a single day once every hundred years.
At first, Tommy and Jeff are mystified by the villagers’ 18th century garb as they go to market, but they are soon charmed by romantic liaisons:
Tommy, who is engaged back in New York, falls terribly in love with headstrong Fiona, while Jeff enjoys a harmless flirtation with Meg Brockie.
It is only when Harry Beaton, the rejected suitor of Fiona’s sister, Jean, tries to leave "BRIGADOON" that the two men realize the complicated truth:
At the end of the day, this town will disappear into the mist for the next hundred years – and if anyone succeeds in leaving "BRIGADOON," the town and the people in it will be lost, forever.
Tommy is forced to choose between returning to the world that he knows and his New York fiancé - or taking a chance on life and love in a mysterious new place.Including such famous hits as “Heather on the Hill” and “Almost Like Being in Love,” Lerner and Loewe’s "BRIGADOON" has music that will sweep you off your feet and a whimsical story that is a tribute to the power of true love. (STAGEAGENT)
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ABOUT THE CONCORD PLAYERS
THE CONCORD PLAYERS are proud of their continuous record of presenting quality theatre to the citizens of Concord and the surrounding communities. Three major productions are mounted each season. In addition, one-acts, such as the annual entry into the Eastern Mass Assn of Community Theatres (EMACT) Spring Festival, are frequently presented. Workshops in acting, directing, and technical theatre are also offered to the membership. MISSION STATEMENTThe purpose of our organization is to produce and perform quality theatre for the citizens of Concord and the surrounding communities. We encourage the participation of people with an interest in technical theatre, as well as in performing.
51 Walden Street
Concord, MA. 01742
# 978-369-2990
