Sunshine on Leith

Taking on this well known show was a successful one for the company who showed their talents throughout. The striking opening, the bond between the soldiers, their expectations of their settling back home after surviving Afghanistan, the nostalgic backdrop of Leith and of course the Proclaimers’ music set the company off on a successful first night. Despite this being a hard show to stage with its 40 scenes to change and keep momentum, the main characters, all strongly portrayed, were all focussed. Liam Rennie as Davy and Steven Walker as Ally were well matched vocally and both brought humour and high hopes seen in I’m On My Way and in the nostalgic drinking in It’s Over and Done With. In their attempts at integration as in the humorous training scene, they showed the difficulties of trying to be themselves. This theme resounded in their relationships with the girls. Olivia Pearson developed the feistiness of Liz, Davy’s sister, who welcomed Ally’s return but whose determination to be herself was paramount. Her voice was clear and true. As her friend Yvonne the nurse, Vicky Paul conveyed caution in her growing relationship with Davy, rejected his hasty violence in defence of Davy and sang a wonderful harmonious and moving duet Misty Blue. with Davy. All four demonstrated their strengths in Make My Heart Fly. Then this business of finding themselves was also a theme for Liz and Davys’ parents, Jean and Rab, as their relationship was put to the test. In one of his best stage roles, Brian McKay brought out the humanity of Rab in his gentleness and pride in his wife as in Oh Jean, his worldliness in being a good father and his steadfastness in doing what was right with his newly discovered daughter. As Jean, Mhairi Stewart made clear the shock and hurt to her whole life view, with a passion delivered in Hate My Love for You and again when she thought she might lose Rab in the telling hand touching moment in hospital. Other characters also played their parts: Louise Scott showed her fine voice as The Wedding Singer and Bethan Jones presented as the quiet and lonely Eilidh. The big numbers were all well executed: the harmonies and stress in Sky Takes the Soul, the humour in Let’s Get Married; and the pathos in the signature song Sunshine on Leith. I particularly liked the tableaux presented in Letter from America – and congratulations to the cleaner at the front who almost had me thinking she was cleaning a real window in Should Have Been Loved. The backdrops to the scenes, the shots of Leith, the kitchen, the pubs- the green of Hibs, the props for the hospital all gave credence to the action. Clear diction in dialogue and lyrics with a sympathetic orchestra was a hallmark here. This was a memorable and emotional first night and successive audiences will be sure to appreciate everyone’s fine performances.

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