Bon The Musical

Edinburgh Festival Fringe Emerald Theatre

A Bon story; not the Bon story.

A new musical about the life and times of AC/DC’s late frontman Bon Scott featuring former Nazareth frontman Linton Osborne in the lead role looks a promising proposition.

Dressed in the late singer’s familiar regalia of Confederate flag belt, Superman T-shirt and denim flares, Osborne undoubtedly looks the part, and during a blast of She’s Got Balls he also shows he has the vocal range and style required. As Scott’s life story unfolds, ‘Bon’ talks about a formative experience supporting Jerry Lee Lewis, referring to the size of The Killer’s balls; it’s here that we seem to have hit upon a theme.

Mark Bennett takes on various comic roles, but it soon begins to feel like a sketch show. Jed Gillies (Angus) plays well during acoustic numbers, but when it comes to plugging in the SG an eventual mime section is perplexing. Surely a few authentic electric riffs are not out the question? Osborne has the talent and presence, but mumbling and going off script creates a loss of momentum. When he fronts up to perform Highway To Hell the atmosphere shifts up several gears, but that energy isn’t harnessed.

While billed as “the trials and triumphs” of the original AC/DC singer, the narrative ends before his tragic death at the age of 33. While deficiencies are many, this production could still be a contender if someone took this narrative by the balls.