Wishing for the Moon

This piece, written by Rhona Mitchell based on based on Lorna Moon’s semi-auto biographical book “Doorways in Drumorty”, tells the story of Lorna Moon’s rise from lowly beginnings as Nora Low in Strichen, a village in N E Scotland, to her becoming one of Hollywood’s successful scenario writers during the silent movie era working with the likes of Cecil B DeMille, until her death from tuberculosis, aged 44, in 1930. The multi-talented cast of 22 took us on the journey through a series of sketches based on stories from the book in which we not only encounter Lorna and the men in her life but the various characters she grew up observing in the village like the disparaging gossip Mistress Mackintosh and her cronies to the self-righteous Kirk Elder Skilly and the town tailor James MacDonald McGregor nick-named The Tattie-Doolie. The sketches also included songs from the period ranging from the traditional “Muckin’ o’ Geordie’s Byre” to Irving Berlin’s “Blue Skies” and the Gershwin Brothers “Someone to Watch Over Me” all beautifully delivered with excellent harmonies and accompanied by Alisdair Sneden on Piano and George Davidson on Violin. The numbers were also cleverly choreographed and delivered step-perfect. Lola Brown was outstanding as Nora Low/Lorna Moon as she narrated us through Lorna’s life with a great stage presence. Cameron Lawson as all the men in Nora/Lorna’s life – her childhood friend, her first husband Yorkshire man William Hebditch, second husband Canadian Walter Moon and brothers Cecil and William DeMille – showed great versatility as an actor as he morphed from one character to another. Imogen Watt as the disparaging Mistress Mackintosh was excellent delivering her gossip and put-down lines with relish. Each member of the cast played their character well so too many to mention them all but a few who stood out for me were Sophie Deacon as Bella Tocher an unfortunate farm servant and her saviour Jessie McLean played by Pamela Green; Hannah Barnes as tailor’s daughter Jean MacFarlane; Euan Banks as fisherman Dan; Isla MacGillivray-Kinnaird and Maximus Boyle as young lovers Sally Ann and James Minty (the Gype) and Emma Thomson as Mistress MacBride who gave a heart rending performance as the young mother too poor to provide for her ill son and too proud to ask for help. The set was very simple,with a few rostra providing different playing levels and the addition of the occasional table and chairs to indicate an interior setting, and sympathetic lighting. Costuming by Liz Cork was appropriate to each character and the era. Congratulations to everyone at Mitchell School of Drama for once again bringing the rich history of the local area to the fore.

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