Never known to shy away from a challenge, Dumfries Musical Theatre Company set themselves a big one by taking on Sunshine on Leith for their latest production.
A world away from traditional musicals, including Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat which they tackled brilliantly last year, Sunshine on Leith requires a large - and mainly young - cast, complex choreography, and skilled singers to take on iconic pop/rock songs by legendary Scottish band The Proclaimers.
But the sell-out show, which had nine performances at the Theatre Royal in May, did not disappoint. It was lovely to see so many young singers, actors and dancers on stage, clearly having the time of their lives and revealing that the future of musical theatre in our region is safe and well.
Hats off to Director Stewart Cameron, his assistant Emma Forsyth and choreographer Sharon F W Mitchell for shaping this wealth of enthusiasm and diverse talent into a slick, professional show.
With multiple costume and set changes, the behind-the-scenes team in wardrobe and props along with the backstage crew also deserve huge credit.
The music, as always, from a highly talented band directed by Nick Riley, was faultless.
A lot rests on the young shoulders of the four lead actors in this story but luckily there was nothing to worry about with the DMTC quartet of Peter Whitelaw as Davy, Maeve Reekie as Yvonne, Owen Kennedy as Ally and Erin Aitchison, making her acting debut, as Liz.
They combined professional quality singing and acting with bucket-loads of character.
The four young stars were brilliantly supported by the Henshaw parents played by Sharron Harper and Roy Stairmand, whose complicated love story was played out in touching scenes full of genuine feeling, be it anger, affection or the inseparable bond of a long marriage.
What I loved most in this production was how it gave some of the less prominent cast members their own chance to shine, including Ren Forteath as the busker, Lara Anderson as the wedding singer and a wonderful trio of cleaners Jane Johnston, Lauren Dalgleish and Deborah Kerr.
Sunshine On Leith proved to be a brilliant choice to attract fresh new talent to the Theatre Royal stage and give audiences an uplifting, memorable night out.
REVIEW BY CAROL HOGARTH
* DMTC’s next production, the Broadway musical Little Women, will be at The Brigend Theatre, Dumfries from November 16 to 23.
