Everybody's Talking About Jamie

45 talented teenagers led us on an emotional journey as they told us the story of 16 year old Jamie New and his ambitions to be a drag queen. Cameron MacRae gave a tour-de-force performance as the titular Jamie with excellent acting, singing and dancing. The almost full house audience on opening night were fully engaged with him from the opening number to finale - through his excitement at receiving his first pair of high heels (red of course!) and strutting across stage to the heart rending rejection by his cold hearted father to the queer bashing he received from his fellow school boys to his realisation that to be happy he only had to accept himself as he was. Aimee Duguid was another who gave an excellent performance as his ever supportive mother Margaret and her rendition of “He’s My Boy” in Act 2 was a show stopper. Eilidh Findlater as Pritti - Jamie’s best friend at school – gave a very strong performance and her rendition of “It Means Beautiful” as she comforts Jamie after his father’s rejection was extremely powerful and one of the highlights for me. Efosa Okuonghae was very impressive as Jamie’s drag mentor Hugo/Loco Chanelle. The greek chorus style group of Loco’s drag queens – Sandra Bollock (Alex McRobb), Tray Sophisticay (Jaiden Wiedeman) and Laika Virgin (Daniel Falconer) – added a touch of glamour to the proceedings and a few laughs with their bitchy banter. Strong support was given by Megan Macmillan (teacher Miss Hedge), Abbie Menzies (Ray, Margaret’s bestie), Zak Leyni (Dean, Jamie’s bullying school boy nemesis) and Matthew Walker (Jamie’s father). The large ensemble of school boys and girls sang and moved really well in the company numbers such as the opening “And You Don’t Even Know It”, “Everybody’s Talking about Jamie” and “Out of the Darkness”. The costuming was appropriate to the era and to the characters. The set was colourful and the use of the video wall to represent the various settings ensured the pace did not falter. The seven piece band were very strong but did not overpower the youthful voices on stage. Congratulations to everyone at Leading Lights on attaining your 30th Anniversary and for delivering another superb show to the citizens of Aberdeen.

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