Sunshine on Leith

I was very excited to visit Elysian’s production of Sunshine on Leith, especially as the production team, cast and crew was full of friends and well-known faces to me from the local am dram community. The Wynd Centre in Paisley is a superb venue, with lots of the characteristics I love in a converted church building including the high vaulted ceiling space, but that said the performing floor area can be tricky to use. However, this came across as no problem at all for Director Ross as he cleverly used the thrust performing area well, utilised the balcony area at high level above the playing space to his advantage for certain scenes and worked with a simplistic set to transform the space throughout the many scenes in this show. This was all very effective and created an intimate relationship between the performers and the audience. The production team of Ross, Andrew and Jen really did pull together a seamless show with rich characters, moving choral and punching solo vocals, along with effective and imaginative choreography and movement. I enjoyed the soldier ensemble being set and walking around the performing area as a pre-show scene on arrival, although it was hard to not wave and say high to the people I knew. The live band set to the side also added to the atmosphere in the venue and soul of the songs in the show. For this show the relationships between each character, whether main or minor are important, and these were all strong and developed. The two leads Stuart Sinnamon (Davy) and Fraser Robertson (Ally) had the audience engaged from the start. Using charisma to carry the story with strong acting and singing throughout the many songs and scenes they were in. Strength within character relationships was continued in the form of Leah Farrell Smith’s Jean and Jonathan Proctor’s Rab. Both jumped from comedy to softer touching moments with ease. Jonathan’s dialogue delivery was masterful and Leahs’s interpretation of the title song “Sunshine on Leith” was very poignant. Leah displayed impeccable acting skills and vocals throughout this number and had the audience silent and in the palm of her hand. Clare Walsh gave a gentle, warm and beautiful portrayal of nurse Yvonne, which balanced perfectly with Sophie Anderson’s feisty and witty Liz. I would also like to mention the connection between Sophie and Fraser as Liz and Ally was also very touching. Supported with a strong ensemble of varying characters, each scene was well executed and in particular Aimee Mejury’s Eilidh was very moving and well delivered bringing more depth to the storyline with Eilidh, Rab and Jean. With a lot of emotion in this show the comic relief in the lighter scenes is always welcomed and this was handled brilliantly. For me one of the funniest comedy scenes was the call centre. It had lots of one liners, humorous interactions between the characters and of course the best delivery of Cheryl Cole … or is that just Cheryl lines which anyone who knows me will know that I personally love. Standing out in this scene were Danielle Wallace, Sophie McLean and Debbie Main. Also, the ad-lib background banter within the call centre staff ensemble, in particular “she looks like Ms Darbus from High School Musical” being picked up on mic was hilarious. I also loved the scene change style when Rab took unwell. The striking red lighting, fade to black-out and then smooth change with the use of the cast in nurses outfits and the hospital curtain rail coming round to reveal Rab in the bed and Jean seamlessly appearing at his bedside was very effective. A huge congrats once again to Elysian on a fabby show.

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.