Shanty singing crew on the crest of a wave
Fisherman’s Friend the Musical at the Theatre Royal, Bath this week is a stomping good show featuring glorious sea shanty harmonies, and some great music and comedy.
Based on the true story of the rise to fame of a group of 10 singing fishermen from Port Isaac in Cornwall, this new musical is nicely adapted for stage.
A successful film in 2019 and sequel this summer, the story is funny, true and with impressive staging transporting the audience to the wild Cornish coast.
The first night audience at the Theatre Royal, Bath loved it, provoking a rare standing ovation at the end.
This rollicking musical cheered the souls of the packed out audience who braved the wet and stormy weather to fill the theatre.
The setting is extremely atmospheric, you feel like you are by the sea in the famous village port, at times on land and other times at sea in a boat rocked by the torrent waves.
The famous Cornish coastline is masterfully recreated in this musical, you can hear the seagulls and almost smell the sea air.
Great backdrop then for this real life tale of how these sea shanty fishermen came to be a top ten charts hit with their first album and ended up on the Pyramid Stage in Glastonbury.
The musical opens with the beer swelling fishermen singing one of their famous shanties at the tables of the now famous Golden Lion by the sea in Port Isaac.
Like the 2019 film of the same name, this new musical features much of the same no nonsense comedy lines of the Cornish fishermen.
For a west country audience this is music to their ears, the anti London jokes go down a treat as do the references to county rivals Devon and Somerset.
The booming voices and harmonies of the ensemble cast is powerful in this stage show, and the female voices are haunting and melodic, accompanied by beautiful violins and other traditional folk instruments.
The stage is set to look like a trawler at times and you really do believe you are right there in the action, most impressive when the small fishing boat is being tossed and turned in the wild Atlantic.
These are real men and women, they lead a rough life and won’t be told to do anything by any outsider.
When cynical Island Records executive Danny accidentally lands on these shores he is mesmerised by the sea shanties sung for generations by these Cornish fishermen and sets out to share it with the world by trying to land a big record deal.
The rest is history as they say, but this adaptation for stage of the now cult band and movie works really well.
The ensemble cast members feel really authentic with outstanding voices and harmonies, and comedy lines got great reaction from the Bath audience.
Parisa Shahmir as female lead Alwyn is standout, her voice so pure for this particular musical genre.
Male leads are also played heartily, each character putting their heart and soul into a truly heartwarming performance.
Even if it is not your genre Fisherman’s Friend the Musical is a thoroughly enjoyable production with powerful singing and accompanying live music, some very convincing acting and movement and is just a rollicking feel good show which warmed the heart on a cold and wet Tuesday evening in Bath. You will come out smiling. Fisherman’s Friend the Musical continues at the Theatre Royal, Bath until Saturday (November 5).
For tickets visit www.theatreroyal. org.uk or ring 01225 448844.