The Herald - The Herald Magazine
Stories of Old Firm glories light up stage
WHAT? Do you think I’m insane? There’s more chance that the Tory MP who made the Angela Rayner claims will confess than there is of me writing a preview for a show written for Celtic fans without covering the other half of the Old Firm with equal wordage.
And here’s even more balance. Both sides, sorry shows, play with great conviction, they don’t skirt from tackling the socio-economic backdrops of the time, play the ball that is a narrative which appeals to die-hards, and each scores freely with gags that hit the back of the net.
To begin. Jim Orr’s Bend it Like Bertie is set to tour. The play is set in the period January to April 1965. And while it’s not the Bertie Auld Story, Bertie (played by voice master Des McLean) features heavily. (The late Bertie Auld granted his approval for the script.)
We are set in the world of Denise and Danny, two fervent Celtic fans whose lives crave football success. But finding a leprechaun in the back garden would seem more likely.
But then . . .
A spokesperson for the play describes the backdrop. “At that time, Celtic had no reputation in European or World football, they had not won the league or cup in 12 years. On top of that, they faced a disillusioned support with crowds of just 10,000, a club very much in the shadow of Rangers.
“But Bertie returned to Celtic in early January and played a major role in the cup-winning run, culminating in him scoring two goals in the final, which he later claimed to be his favourite game.”
Clearly, there is much of this period for Celtic fans to remember with delight. This cup win proved to be the launchpad for Jock Stein’s all-conquering Celtic team of the late 60s and early 70s.
Bend It Like Bertie, which also features River City star Jimmy Chisholm, is part of a 16-date tour. There are plans to take the show to Las Vegas in 2024.
Right, that’s the east end of the city taken care of. Now, it’s time to offer blue representation. The Pavilion is set to stage Rally Roon The Rangers. (Roles are being cast right now but it’s confirmed that James McAnerney and Liam Dolan will appear.)
“It’s the story of a Rangers social club that’s going to the wall,” says a spokesperson for the theatre, “and it’s the fans who stand up to be counted.
“But of course, what they don’t know is that there are nefarious forces at work. The club can’t be saved because a deal has been done to turn it into an Asda.
“And just to add insult to injury, Asda’s marketing colour is green.”
The storyline, by Ned Sollid, (which, I’m guessing, may be a nom de plume) may not have the narrative weight of a traditional centre half, but that shouldn’t matter too much because “the show is sixty per cent songs.”
There. Balance achieved.
Rally Roon The Rangers, The Pavilion Theatre, Glasgow, July 28-30 and
August 4-6 and 11-13.
Bend It Like Bertie tours from May 27. Dates include Motherwell Concert Hall; Eastwood Park Theatre, Giffnock; Howden Park Centre, Livingston; Tivoli Theatre Aberdeen; Kilbarchan Performing Arts Centre; Regal Theatre, Bathgate; Rothes Halls, Glenrothes; The Queen’s Hall, Dunoon; Corran Halls, Oban; FTH Theatre, Falkirk