Waking Up the Highlands in Southern California
There is a specific kind of bravery required to stage Brigadoon in the 2020s. Lerner and Loewe’s 1947 classic is steeped in a particular brand of mid-century idealism and thick Scottish brogues that can easily slide into parody if handled with a heavy hand. Yet, the Pasadena Playhouse has a knack for finding the heartbeat beneath the artifice. Their latest revival doesn't just dust off a relic; it polishes the silver until the reflection is clear, vibrant, and unexpectedly moving.
The story, for those who skipped theater history, follows two American travelers, Tommy Albright and Jeff Douglas, who stumble upon a mystical village in the Scottish Highlands that appears for only one day every hundred years. It is a high-concept premise that relies entirely on the audience’s willingness to believe in the impossible. In this production, that belief comes easily, thanks to a creative team that prioritizes atmospheric immersion over kitschy highland tropes.
As we continue to track the resurgence of Golden Age musicals in our entertainment coverage, it is refreshing to see a production that respects the source material while acknowledging the passage of time. This isn't a cynical deconstruction, but rather a thoughtful restoration.
A Landscape of Mist and Melody
The visual language of this revival is where the 'enrapturing' quality begins. Rather than relying on painted flats and cardboard hills, the scenic design opts for a more ethereal, textural approach. The mist doesn't just roll in; it seems to breathe with the performers. When the village of Brigadoon first emerges from the fog, the effect is genuinely transportive, making the theater feel much larger than its physical footprint.
Musically, the production is a triumph. The score contains some of the most soaring melodies in the musical theater canon, and the orchestra here treats them with the reverence they deserve. From the sweeping romanticism of "The Heather on the Hill" to the infectious joy of "Almost Like Being in Love," the numbers land with a clarity that highlights Frederick Loewe’s melodic genius. According to the original Variety review context, the production manages to bridge the gap between 1947 and 2026 with remarkable grace.
Performances That Transcend the Script
The success of any Brigadoon hinges on the chemistry between Tommy and Fiona. If you don't believe Tommy would consider abandoning his entire life in New York for a woman he met six hours ago, the plot collapses. Fortunately, the leads in Pasadena possess a magnetic pull that makes the central romance feel like destiny rather than a lapse in judgment. Fiona, in particular, is played with a grounded strength that prevents her from becoming a mere highland waif; she is a woman who understands the stakes of her world’s unique curse—or blessing.
The supporting cast provides the necessary friction. Jeff, the cynical American foil, is played with a dry wit that prevents the evening from becoming overly saccharine. His skepticism acts as the audience's surrogate, making Tommy’s eventual surrender to the magic of the village all the more earned. The dancing, too, deserves a mention. Agnes de Mille’s original choreography is legendary, and this production honors that legacy while injecting a contemporary vitality into the Highland dances that feels athletic and urgent.
The Weight of Time and Choice
What makes this revival nearly a "once-a-century phenomenon" is how it handles the theme of time. In our modern world, where we are constantly tethered to the present by technology and a 24-hour news cycle, the idea of a place where time stands still—or moves at a glacial pace—carries a new weight. The choice Tommy faces is no longer just between a woman and a city, but between a chaotic, fleeting modern existence and a permanent, peaceful stasis.
There are minor quibbles, of course. Some of the secondary plot points involving the village’s jealous residents feel a bit rushed, and the pacing in the first act occasionally stutters as the show establishes its internal logic. However, these are small shadows in an otherwise sun-dappled production. The Pasadena Playhouse has proven once again that they are masters of the revival, capable of taking a show that could feel dated and making it feel essential.
Final Thoughts: A Fleeting Beauty
By the time the final notes of the reprise fade and the mist reclaims the village, there is a palpable sense of loss in the auditorium. That is perhaps the greatest compliment one can pay to this production: it makes you want to stay in Brigadoon just a little bit longer. It isn't a perfect production—few things are—but it is an enrapturing one that captures the elusive 'miracle' at the heart of the story.
If you have the chance to see it before it vanishes, take it. Much like the village itself, theater this heartfelt and well-executed doesn't come around every day. It’s a reminder that sometimes, the old stories are the ones that can still tell us something new about our own hearts.
