5 feelgood things to do in Inverness this weekend
It's a time of dramas this week, theatre is busting out all over with musical Sister Act, locals presenting a 40s classic comedy, legendary mystery The Mousetrap plus some contrasting music options...
1 Best convent-based musical bar nun?
Likely to be one of – if not THE – feelgood shows of the year Sister Act is blessed with almost everything an audience might pray for in a musical. Lesley Joseph adds a touch of actorly class to her Mother Superior role, while the voices of Sandra Marvin and Clive Rowe – as heroine Deloris and slightly timid cop Eddie – are something special. Glitz, colour and comedy moments from gangster sidekicks TJ, Pablo and Joey (try Lady In The Black Dress), add up to a big night out, at Eden Court until Saturday, various times and suitable for a 7+ audience. Lesley Joseph interview
2 Raise the vibration!
Head for Tooth & Claw on Friday, June 2 for a triple bill to lift the spirits ... and maybe have a dance to ... Ramanan Ritual and special guests Karawane and reggae group Woodland Roots line up in a night of music for an 18+ audience. Doors from 7pm
3 Couple of choral concerts
Forty years of bringing the consoling choral sounds of the ensemble Musick Fyne to audiences in the area is marked by the group returning to regular venues for them, in both Inverness and Dornoch Cathedrals. Director D James Ross leads the group for their first date on Sunday, June 4 at 3pm, as part of the Cake & Concert series at Inverness Cathedral (cake at 3pm, music starts at 3.30pm). And on Thursday, June 8 at 8pm, the group heads up to Dornoch Cathedral with a programme of music for voices and instruments from Italy in the 17th and 18th centuries. Expect Vivaldi, a "neglected masterpiece" by Ciaia and instrumental music." All proceeds are shared between the venues and Highland Hospice.
TICKETS: By programme on each door, cost £10.
4 More elderberry wine, anyone?
Inverness theatre company The Florians have a mission to get audiences forgetting their cares with a laughs-packed drama. Their latest production of Arsenic & Old Lace runs until Saturday at the Florians Theatre at Bught Park, 7.30pm. It's based on a comedy play by Joseph Kesselring that inspired the 1944 Frank Capra movie, where two elderly sisters are 'looking after' their lonely neighbours, and nephew Mortimer has to sort it all out – Cary Grant played Mortimer in the movie. The theatre group's ticket sales have been going really well, director Trevor Nicol says. So if you fancy it, don't delay.
5 Can you solve the longest-running mystery in theatre?
From Monday, June 5 a classic returns to Eden Court as The Mousetrap 70th Anniversary Tour – the world’s longest-running play – starring Todd Carty arrives.The famous whodunnit has somehow managed to keep secret who the murderer is, despite playing for all those years in London's West End. And as the production blurb claims 'This thrilling West End production is THE genre-defining murder mystery from the best-selling novelist of all time… case closed!' Seven strangers find themselves snowed in at a remote countryside guesthouse. When a police sergeant arrives, the guests discover – to their horror – that a killer is in their midst! Can you solve this world-famous mystery for yourself? Also stars Catherine Shipton (Casualty, Hollyoaks).
And in this clip, there is a different cast of actors, but it's a taster ...
HEADS UP
A wee streaming idea, if you fancy chilling at home one night next week...
Culpa Mia (15) offers a cheeky romantic drama streaming on Prime Video from Thursday, June 8, as forbidden love develops between step siblings, adapted from the first instalment of Mercedes Ron’s best-selling Culpables trilogy. Nicole Wallace portrays fiercely independent 17-year-old Noah, who is upset to have to abandon her boyfriend, friends and old life to relocate to the mansion of her mother’s rich new husband, William Leister (Ivan Sanchez). Noah makes her anger clear then sparks a rivalry with William’s model son Nick (Gabriel Guevara). Can we guess where this might be heading ...?
PROGRESS UPDATE
Just a reminder The Budapest Cafe Orchestra's mammoth summer tour of the North of Scotland – their 'Gorse' tour, reaches the West this week with dates: Monday, June 5, Rosehall Village Hall; Tuesday, June 6, Lochinver Village Hall; Wednesday, June 7, Achiltibuie, Coigach Hall; and on Thursday, June 8, they reach the Ceilidh Place in Ullapool.
Budapest's Christian Garrick's royal mission
