The Lyric stage a standout version of Sunshine On Leith at His Majesty's. Image - Adele Keith
I casually mentioned to a chum recently that The Lyric are a kick in the bum (mibbe not the word I used) off being a professional company.
So, thanks to this foremost of Aberdeen’s amateur musical theatre companies for proving me right with a rendition of Sunshine On Leith that was by turns rousing, moving, funny and feelgood at His Majesty’s Theatre.
I’ve seen this Proclaimers-inspired show at least four times now – including the Dundee Rep’s world premiere through to professional tours. Trust me, The Lyric is right up there with those.
Quite simply, you forget that the fantastically talented ensemble cast have day jobs. They simply inhabit the show and its characters and fill the HMT stage with exuberant joy plus a leavening of poignant pathos.
They are on their way - Callum Anderson, Jordan Lee and Kenneth Lypka give it welly in Sunshine On Leith. Image - Adele Keith
Mind you, they are working with some cracking material – not least the glorious back catalogue of the Brothers Reid, from haunting loves songs to biting political polemic, oh and terrific earworm tunes.
But Stephen Greenhorn’s script isn’t just a jukebox musical with hits from The Proclaimers shoehorned in whether they fit or not. Nope, this a story with depth and heart about characters you believe in, relate to and care for. It’s the “like us” factor through a West End musical lens and each song carries the weight of the narrative.
There are four different love stories going on centred around one family, the Henshaws. Parents Rab and Jean are rock solid after 30 years until they aren’t, with Craig Pike and Rhonda Scott bringing not only fantastic voices but also real chemistry to the roles. You will believe they are a couple of three decades standing.
The Lyric's ensemble turn The Prolaimers' songs into choral masterpieces. Image - Adele Keith
Daughter Liz (a captivating Laura Burnett) is caught between settling down with former squaddie Ally (an excellent turn by Callum Anderson) or “wanting the world”.
Son Davy – Ally’s best pal and former Army comrade – has his head turned by nurse Yvonne and ends up with serious soul searching to make it work. Kenneth Lypka imbues his Davy with a gawky charm while Sarah Dawson is a superb foil as his romantic interest.
And the fourth love story? That’s the love letter to the songs of The Proclaimers that runs through Sunshine On Leith like a seam of pure gold. But these familiar tunes, many woven into the Scottish psyche, are given a fresh turn and different delivery adding to the punch and the soul of them.
From pure joy to tender tears, Sunshine On Lyric runs the full range of emotions, thanks to The Lyric's terrific cast. Image - Adele Keith
Highlights – and there were many – include a raucous rendition of Throw The R Away set in a call centre training room and the party on a stage that is Let’s Get Married. The raw anger of What Do You Do? is given added urgency, arriving on the eve of a General Election.
Trumping all of that, though, was Rhonda’s haunting rendition of Sunshine On Leith, as she sits by Rab’s hospital bedside. It was spine-tinglingly good, with the audience listening in rapt silence, broken only by the occasional teary snuffle.
The ensemble took it up to 12, when they joined in as a choir, punching up the raw emotion of the moment.
This was something The Lyric absolutely nailed all night – turning The Proclaimers' music into huge choral masterpieces, played at its best with Letter From America that was a masterclass in harmonies.
Outstanding moment - Rhonda Scott transforms Sunshine On Leith into something powerful and haunting. Image - Adele Keith
So, we have the music of the Reid brothers, the sparkling script by Stephen Greenhorn and the towering talent of The Lyric... little wonder the audience was putty in their hands.
And little wonder that when the first chords of 500 Miles struck up, the entire auditorium was on its feet, cheering, clapping and singing and stayed there right through a well-deserved standing ovation.
It would be a cliché to say you should walk 500 Miles to grab a ticket Sunshine On Leith at His Majesty’s. But like all clichés, it’s true.
Sunshine On Leith is at His Majesty’s Theatre until Saturday, June 29. You can find information and tickets here.
Review by Scott Begbie