Spooktacular Mary Rose joins Pitlochry Theatre’s repertoire

In complete contrast to the spectacle and music of High Society, J.M. Barrie’s creepy ghost story Mary Rose has joined the repertoire at Pitlochry Festival Theatre.

Kirriemuir’s famous export is best known, of course, for Peter Pan and certain themes crop up here – replace Never Never Land with a mysterious uninhabited Scottish island, and Mary Rose is the girl who never grew up.

Written at the end of the first world war, we first meet an Australian soldier who is drawn to visit a creepy Sussex manor, its secret closely guarded by the statuesque Mrs Otery (Valerie Cutko all mean and moody).

He rests in the lug chair – and the story of the past 30 years unfolds.

On a family holiday to Scotland, the young Mary Rose disappears on an island for three weeks, but with no memory of having been away. Flash forward a decade when, now a young mother, she returns to the island with her husband. This time she is gone for a generation, only to return unchanged with her son now older than her.

This Richard Baron-inspired production hits all the right notes with atmospheric lighting from Wayne Dowdeswell and a haunting sound track from Jon Beales.

Alan Steele is a delight as Barrie, narrator and general helper. Sara Clark Downie is the enthusiastic but troubled Mary Rose and Irene Allan and Ian Marr age credibly over the 30 years.

Alan Mirren is all kilt and gaiters as boatman and aspiring minister Mr Cameron and Elliot Fitzpatrick is in the dual capacity of Mary Rose’s husband Simon and the Aussie soldier (to say more would be a spoiler).

It is an enigmatic piece. Is it all a dream? If Cameron is so fearful of the island, why does he set foot on it? But let’s not delve too deeply and enjoy it for what it is – a beautifully crafted production by the company.