SUNSHINE ON LEITH

On Saturday afternoon, following a tortuous journey up the A1, I was fortunate enough to see Berwick Opera perform the well-known jukebox musical SUNSHINE ON LEITH at The Maltings Arts Centre, making my difficult trip all the more worthwhile.

This type of musical is not usually my thing, but I have to admit the score; featuring almost the whole of the back catalogue of The Proclaimers was a great way to spend an early summer's afternoon, not too far from the place where the story is based.

Written by the acclaimed Stephen Greenhorn, this is a bright and breezy, foot tapping journey through the emotions of love and family life, intertwined with the hopes, dreams and values of the characters and their social and emotional struggles, with which most of us can all empathise.

In short, servicemen Davy – Morgan Flannigan and Ally – Matty Forster return from war overseas in Afghanistan to be confronted with civilian life. Ally returns to his girlfriend Liz – Rachael Johnston, a nurse, who is also Davy’s sister. On their first night home, Liz introduces Davy to her English friend and colleague Yvonne – Rebekah Herbert. Following their blind date, Davy and Yvonne strike up a romantic relationship as Ally and Liz consider their future as a potential married couple. Davy and Ally struggle to understand what ‘Home’ really means. In addition, Rab – Andy Knight, Davy’s father discovers he has also fathered a child - 20 plus years ago from a one-night stand, when his daughter Eilidh - Kelis Bloomfield turns up to advise him of the death of her mother. This is discovered by Rab’s wife Jean – Lynn Ireland at their 25th wedding anniversary party. Can the two of them recover from this discovery?.

I thought the seven main principals were all excellent in their roles. There were some superb solos, duets and quartets in the musical numbers featuring the classics – I’m On My Way, Misty Blue, Let’s Get Married, What Do You Do, Letter From America and Five Hundred Miles. But the highlight of the show must be Sunshine On Leith beautifully sung by Jean at Rab’s bedside, following his heart attack late in the piece. I should also, at this stage praise the excellent ensemble, led by Nicola Summers in the role of Hazel.

Congratulations must go to the creative team of Denise Clarke – Director/Choreographer, Sandra Storey – Assistant Director, and Mike Hardy – Musical Director for their obvious hard work, which paid off in droves. To the rest of the backstage team and technical staff; well done!. Your contributions all served to make this production the success it was, as the deserved standing ovation after the finale showed.

If I was to make any criticism, it would be of the sometimes lengthy scene changes, which at times seemed to take forever. This was, however, probably a result of the facilities, (or lack of them) offered by the Theatre itself. No flying is hopefully one of the problems the future refurbishment will address.

All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed my first visit to Berwick Opera and look forward to the next time. Thanks for the invitation and the warm greeting.

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