Sunshine on Leith

The audience were buzzing with plaudits as they exited this show. This performance engaged from the opening number Sky Takes the Soul in the battleground of Afghanistan and the death of a comrade. This drew us into the lives of two squaddies who felt they had seen enough war and came home to Leith to pick up the pieces of their lives. That this was not so easy was brought out by John Coe as Davy, in his relationships with his father and Yvonne and by Andrew Gibson as Ally in his love for Liz which goes wrong. John Coe developed his role with confidence and sang impressively all the way through. Andrew Gibson, though young, matched this confidence and sang with feeling and expression, indicating there is a lot more to be developed here. Their ladies were no less talented and Claire Wilson as Yvonne gave a nicely nuanced performance and Jennifer Brisbane as Liz brought out the passion of a young girl with dreams.  Davy and Yvonnes’ duet Musty Blue was beautifully sung as were the harmonies of the four in Make My Heart Fly.  Stewart Borthwick brought out the irascibility and homeliness of father Rab with nicely timed lines sparking humour and, when in hospital, empathy. Michelle Weston as his wife Jean who learnt of a long ago affair, excelled as loving mother and bewildered wife, and moved us all with the song Sunshine on Leith. The scene with Young Rab and Young Margaret though short gave us enough to see another likely pair in Cameron Borthwick and Lynsey Craig. These were all strong principals who were supported by chorus work which was colourful and full of Scottish character. The set of triangular flats which were turned to set a war zone, a home, a hospital were clever, unobtrusive and worked well. This was a well-staged show with great singing, a cast which was thoroughly enjoying itself, a well-blended orchestra and a last number, I’m Gonne Be (500 miles), which raised the roof.

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