**** 4 Stars
“Packed with Wow Moments! “
A modern musical that’s become a beloved favourite of Scottish audiences is without doubt Sunshine on Leith featuring the music of The Proclaimers written by Stephen Greenhorn (Yes the mind behind BBC Scotland’s River City) the show debuted in 2007 at the stellar Dundee Rep followed by a big screen adaptation in 2013. The West Yorkshire Playhouse would produced a reworked version of the show in 2018 and its that production which local company Stage Door Entertainment have brought to the stage just a stone’s throw down the road from the heart of Leith itself at the Portobello Town Hall. The deliver a show rich in character and packed with wow! Moments!
Telling the story of Ally (Ewan Robertson) and Davy (Aaron Khachaturian) two Leith lads who return from deployment in the middle east to try and pick up home life where they left off! Encountering family issues and affairs of the heart that can someone times be more of a battle on than that of the front lines. Can hope of a better life and the power of love be enough to see them through to civvy street this show explores that journey with great warmth and generosity of spirit.
Directed by Lisa Goldie with musical direction from Tommie Travers and Choreography by Aiden O’Brien Stage doors production wears its heart firmly on sleeve getting great performances from the large 7 strong principal company and nearly 30 strong supporting and ensemble cast.
Robertson and Khachaturian deliver powerful performances throughout the show leading the company in style with Khachaturian having an utterly gripping knack for character acting. Malcolm Milne as Rab and Lindsay McDougall as “Rab” and “Jean” are a convincing elder couple struggling with the revelation of long hidden secrets and leading well into Greenhorns soap style writing of the script. Ellie McConachie as Liz and Monique Crisell as “Liz” and “Yvonne” deliver the vocal highlights of the show with rich vocal sounds being delivered by both with real charm. Erin Aitchinson as “Eilidh” has a tricky job as the character is shoehorned into the story as a plot device rather than a character with depth, but she delivers well.
The ensemble shines every moment there onstage especially when delivering O’Brien’s inventive choreography. As a whole company that the show delivers spine tingling moments with “Sunshine On Leith” and “Letter from America” becoming haunting moments of truth that touch the soul.
Musical Director Tommie Travers has eeked out every harmony from the score and his polished company deliver them with true style that echoes around the town hall and all this backed by his stellar eight strong pit band featuring a magnificent string trio that’s rarely heard or seen in other productions.
There were opening night nerves across the company with dropped lines peppering the performance, but the tightness of the company was clear as they carried on through using just the right touch of comedy to smooth over the edges.
Production wise its less even, its great to see Stage door really open up the Town Hall stage stripping it back to expose the wings but also using a wonderful simple setting of cloudy sky and Edinburgh Iconic skyline backed against it. Its all beautifully lit by Heather Rolland’s inspired lighting design that brings the beauty of the venue out as much as it does the emotional depths of the show. Simon Ferguson’s sound design suffered most from opening night glitches but considering he was brought in last moment to fill the roll it’s a great achievement given the size of the job at hand and when it came to the big wow moments he delivered well. Special mention also must go to Lesley O’Brien’s magnificent wardrobe design that captures Leith life with detail, style and truth.
Stage door have a real treat of show on there hands if they can speed up the transitions (the show comes in at nearly 3 hours end to end) between scenes getting it slicker and workout the kinks in the sound the show will ooze real flair and give that musical cherry on the cake.
So, what you waiting for? You don’t have to walk 500 miles to get a ticket for a terrific night of musical theatre, but you might walk 500 miles more if it sells out before you get there!
Stage Door Entertainment presents, Sunshine On Leith, Portobello Town Hall Runs until Sunday 24th May, for more information and tickets go to: https://www.stagedoorentertainment.co.uk/tickets
ScotsGay Arts 