From the moment the audience enters the garden theatre at the Scottish Storytelling Centre, they step into the world of Pirates and Mermaids. The garden is transformed into Central Park, New York. An American tour guide leads us through the park to where a young man in a kilt sits alone on a park bench.
As a small group, we join him on the bench and he strikes up a cheerful conversation. Jeremiah Reynolds plays Cameron, a man now living in New York, having grown up in Scotland. He tells us of his youth there and his family, showing us pictures on his mobile phone and recalling anecdotes in such a charming and honest way that his story is genuinely believable. Cameron has had to leave his girlfriend Eilidh behind in Scotland for job opportunities in New York; we quickly learn that Skype and email are not enough for the couple. As Cameron struggles with the decisions before him, Reynolds expertly weaves his story through embodying multiple characters from his life, interacting with the small audience around him and drawing connections to an old Scottish folk tale from his youth to great effect.
Reynolds and director Sandy Thomson have written a heart warming, funny, thought provoking script. Delivering it in such an intimate and unique setting give a really authentic feel to this production. The audience are completely drawn in to Cameron and Eilidh’s relationship with Reynold’s phenomenal performance of this lovable character. Audience members will find themselves wanting to know more and more of their story long after the show has ended in this uplifting and moving play.
With thanks to Rose for her input.