An Appointment with The Wicker Man is an entertaining, crowd pleasing romp

Am dram galore: Comedy capers abound in horror spoof

Following its premiere in Aberdeen last week, Greg Hemphill and Donald McLearys spoof, homage, to cult 1970s horror movie The Wicker Man hitches up in Glasgow, before continuing on its travels across Scotland.

Having generated much pre-show hype, Vicky Featherstones National Theatre of Scotland production arrives trailing mixed reviews.

The main criticisms seem to be that there is nothing culturally groundbreaking about the show. (There isnt.) And that this sort of broad brushstroke, populist entertainment isnt really the sort of thing the NTS should be indulging in. When of course the exact opposite is true.

Scottish theatre is a broad church. And like all churches could do with as many bums on seats as possible. Which Hemphill and McLearys comedy will surely deliver, and in the process help flag up the NTSs commitment to providing theatre for all. Not just the chattering classes.

Dont get me wrong. Im all for high art. And the NTS has delivered plenty of it down the years, with varying degrees of success. But sometimes its good to just sit back and have a good laugh, and a fun evening out.

Which is exactly what this entertaining, crowd pleasing romp provides. A fact even the sniffiest of critics were forced to admit. Albeit couched in terms of a backhanded compliment, as if enjoying yourself was a pagan sin.

A cross between Noises Off, Hammer Horror kitsch, and seaside, variety show Carry On comedy, the show focuses on the attempts of Scottish islands am dram group The Loch Parry Players to stage a production of The Wicker Man.

As in Robin Hardys cult classic, the arrival of a stranger from the mainland into the midst of this clannish community is the cue for all manner of weird goings on.

Only this time rather than a policeman come to investigate the mysterious disappearance of a little girl, Sean Biggerstaffs Rory is a TV star from Glasgow come to play the cop, following the mysterious disappearance of leading man, Roger Morgan.

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An Appointment with The Wicker Man is an entertaining, crowd pleasing romp