Ray Bradbury’s 2116 The Musical

C Plaza, George Square
5-30 August, 21:00

Ray Bradbury has given his name to this two part futuristic musical but the programme suggests he is only responsible for Act 1, The Tale of the Wycherlys, a poignant tale about an ageing husband and wife commissioning marionette replicas of their younger selves to give to one another as presents. The unintended consequences are enjoyably played out through the use of puppetry, song and dance, and could have been developed even further.

As Act 1 concludes, you might have been forgiven for thinking the show had finished, instead a disconnected Act 2 commences with a story of enemies of the state on the run in the company of robots. Any message about erosion of civil liberties and the impact of technology on our lives is somehow lost in all the song and dance, and their call for ‘joyous anarchy’ is perplexing.

Gallimaufry Performing Arts’ production is well choreographed, with excellent theatrical make-up and costume, and some quality singing and dancing, but ultimately Act 2 is bewildering and the overall show suffers for it.

– Margaret Scott