Review: SUNSHINE ON LEITH, King's Theatre, Glasgow

First staged at Dundee Rep in 2007, Sunshine On Leith is a musical based on the songs of Charlie and Craig Reid- perhaps better known as The Proclaimers.

The story begins with friends Davy and Ally returning home to Leith (not Edinburgh) from serving in the army. Ally is ready to propose to his girlfriend Liz and sets Davy up with Liz's friend Yvonne from work. The other storyline that runs alongside is the complications in Rab and Jean's 30 year marriage as history comes back to haunt them. The plot is fairly fluffy but utterly charming.

You don't usually detect accents in a musical but every note is delivered in the broadest of Scots, which is a nice nod to the original material and the unique style of The Proclaimers. The songs are delivered with unbridled enthusiasm and highlights include "Over and Done With" and "Life With You" as well as..well, the obvious one!

There is an onstage band for the performance which fits nicely with the pub setting in some scenes. What makes this production particularly special is that the musicians are also involved in the show and are in among the action for the majority of the show.

I was pleasantly surprised to find that the show wasn't a riotous sing-a-long from the beginning. Normally I would expect a Glasgow audience to have to be bound and gagged to stay in their seats during "I'm On My Way" at the very beginning of the show but everyone remained engrossed in the performance. Come the finale we had the mildly terrifying experience of the King's Theatre grand circle shaking as every single person in the auditorium took to their feet for "500 Miles".

While the show is receiving rave reviews up and down the country, I can't help but feel that a homecoming is a wee bit more special- especially as the actor playing Ally (Paul-James Corrigan) is a panto regular in the very same theatre! The local references in the script are brilliant and any Edinburgh based digs against Glaswegians was taken in good humour! Sunshine On Leith is a positive and joyful way to spend an evening.

Sunshine On Leith runs at the King's Theatre, Glasgow until June 23rd.

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