Sunset Song

In 2005, Sunset Song was voted the Best Scottish Book of All Time. To bring such a National Treasure to the stage is a bold undertaking indeed, and one that could have many pitfalls - unfamiliar language and complexity of action, to name but two. All credit then to Alistair Cording’s adaptation, Kenny Ireland’s direction, and Hayden Griffen’s stunning stage set, that the play performed by Aberdeen Performing Arts company this week at the King’s Theatre is such a powerful piece of work.
Visually the play is a triumph. An upwardly sloping floor of alternating light and dark furrows lead to a changing photographic backdrop of seasons and skies, giving us the landscape of the Mearns in all its harshness and beauty. The strange, holding power that this landscape has on Chris Guthrie, the young girl at the heart of the story, is all important. “I love it and hate it in a breath,” she says, hating the hardship yet loving the beauty. Chris is torn between learning and the land, her life made more difficult by a stern, bullying father, a sensitive mother who is driven to suicide, and a brother who flees to Argentina. Hannah Donaldson, just a year out of RSMA, is magnificent in the role as Chris. She brings poetry to the words, and warmth to the character. She is feisty and vulnerable, practical and intelligent, and wholly believable.
As Chris is to change from girl to woman, so the whole rural way of life is to change forever, with the coming of the First World War. The sweep of this story is vast. Episode follows episode at breakneck speed and we are enthralled, caught up in harvests and a wedding, violence, childbirth, happiness and despair, The language is challenging to an Edinburgh audience not accustomed to the Doric, but the beauty of the imagery shines through. The Musical director Paul Anderson plays the most haunting fiddle music as a counterpoint to the immense unfolding action.
That there was rapt and silent attention from the large number of school parties there on opening night is better commendation than any review. This play must have surely advanced their understanding of a great book.
King’s Theatre until October 4th.