Gruesome glory at Seaview

Well... I'm in the van on the way home from this evening's performance of Burke & Hare at Seaview Primary School and I'm going to struggle to find the words to sum up and do justice to this particular performance. For starters, the audience was a superb one; there was not one empty seat in the hall, and a good number of dedicated friends and family resorted to standing at the back for the duration.

By the time the show started, the anticipation was almost at boiling point and, boy, did the show live up to expectations. The Cadavers started off with a bang, rising from the grave and singing their spine chilling warning about Auld Reekie's infamous bodysnatching duo. In the next scene, a contrast to the murky graveyard opener, the hustle and bustle of Auld Reekie introduced the Irish immigrant workers - the 'Navvies' - and the 'Townsfolk' of Edinburgh. Seaview's acting prowess portrayed the tension between to the two character groups with great skill and effect, and by the time the town Guards marched in to break up the market-square brawl, the audience had been truly transported to the dirty Victorian streets.

The high standards of singing and acting from each of the groups continued on throughout the gruesome tale; from the questionable law enforcement of the pious Guards, to the excited and studious students, to the passionate and pompous Townspeople.

By the time Burke and Hare finally met their maker, the cast brought the house down with one final warning. As soon as the lights cut at the end of the Epilogue, a mountainous cheer and rapturous applause erupted from the belly of the audience, followed by many a curtain call for every member of the cast.

Many many congratulations to all involved and thanks so much for making it such a great occasion. In short, missing the show would have been a hangable offence!