The bittersweet encore of Sian Silver: A review of “Maybe Tomorrow“
Imagine dedicating your life to performing, dreaming of leading roles, only to find your niche as the character actor. This poignant reality forms the heart of “Maybe Tomorrow,” a new lunchtime musical currently captivating audiences in Glasgow and soon to be in Edinburgh. The play,penned by Hannah Jarrett-Scott and Brian James O’Sullivan,centers on Sian Silver,a 75-year-old singer facing the twilight of her career in the seaside town of Sunthorpe On Sea.
Liz Ewing delivers a compelling performance as Sian, adorned in a dazzling, almost overwhelming amount of sequins. She embodies a performer clinging to the stage, delivering bouncy music-hall numbers with a practiced cheerfulness and undeniable brass. However, beneath the confident facade lies a story of faded dreams and financial strain.
Sian earns a modest £250 a week, yet still attracts the attention of a devoted stage door admirer. Her recent show,”Sinatra: Comin’ Atcha,” hints at a career trajectory that,while long,hasn’t quite reached the heights she once envisioned. It’s not a matter of lacking talent, but rather a sense of being perpetually out of step with time.
This internal struggle is brilliantly visualized through the appearance of Sian’s younger self, portrayed with vibrant energy by Julia Murray. Murray also skillfully embodies Sian’s various male visitors in Lesley Hart‘s thoughtfully directed production. Dressed in a silver leotard, leg warmers, and flowing red curls, this younger Sian radiates optimism and a lack of regret.
Consider the contrast: while the younger Sian belts out “I Miss My Baby When He Goes Away” with genuine emotion, the older Sian’s rendition of “Tomorrow” from Annie feels unsettlingly hollow. this juxtaposition highlights the play’s central theme – the weight of unrealized potential and the bittersweet acceptance of one’s limitations.
Though, “Maybe Tomorrow” treads familiar ground. The narrative of a fading starlet grappling with disillusionment isn’t new. It can be challenging to fully sympathize with a character whose unwavering belief in her stardom seems to have blinded her to reality. You might find yourself questioning if Sian’s realization of emptiness comes too late to truly resonate.
Ultimately, the encounter with her younger self doesn’t dramatically alter Sian’s viewpoint, leaving the play’s overall purpose somewhat ambiguous. Despite this, the production offers a captivating glimpse into the life of a performer who has dedicated everything to her craft.
Here’s where you can experiance “Maybe tomorrow”:
* Òran Mór, Glasgow: Performances continue until October 11th.
* Traverse Theater, Edinburgh: Shows run from October 14th to 18th.
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