It’s fair to say that Searchlight Theatre Company is a staple of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Its particular brand of triumphantly victorious storytelling is always suffused with hopefulness as well as an unashamed but never overbearing love and celebration of Christianity and of men of faith confronted with situations that test their resolve and love of the Lord.
In that framework, dependable duo David Robinson and Michael Taylor return their 2012 production of Eric Liddell: The Chariot of Fire to the Edinburgh stage to mark the celebration of the centenary of his story and the amazing feat of physical prowess that landed Liddell a Gold medal at the 1924 Paris Olympics.
Based on the real events, the play focuses on Liddell (Taylor) and his coach Tom McKerchar (Robinson) as they attempt to get the Olympic committee to reschedule a competitive 100-metre heat from Sunday. As Liddell’s strict faith prohibits him from working on the sabbath, the pair are faced with an almost certain brick wall of bureaucracy and a test of their friendships and faiths, Liddell’s in his religion and McKerchar in his athlete.
All said, most people will likely know how this story pans out, and it's less a deep introspective soul-search and more a wistful celebration of a national hero. It’s also a very funny play, with the lion’s share of the jokes coming from Robinson’s deadpan delivery of McKerchar’s dry-wit.
In the end, it’s a heartwarming journey, a timely salute to a local hero and yet another example of this fine theatre company bringing tales of hope, faith and kindness to the Festival stage. Eric Liddell: The Chariot of Fire, is one of four productions it is touring this year, explaining the relatively short run, the other returning shows being Chamberlain: Peace in Our Time, The Screwtape Letters and Titanic: The Last Hero and The Last Coward.