Melissa is currently studying HND Make-Up at West College Scotland’s Greenock Campus. As part of the College’s drive to encourage students to gain relevant work experience, Melissa had the opportunity to work with Largs Players, providing stage make-up for the cast of the ‘Caledonia USA’ world-premiere.
A large cast, with different actors playing the characters as they age, meant there was lots of work for Melissa, but her studies had prepared her well.
“The show was amazing! Behind the scenes, the make-up department was very well organised and great to work with. It was hectic and exciting and I got to see what it's like to work from call sheets and use face charts, and see the script broken down and how to use it to work out where in the script my change overs were. It was great to use my skills in a real-work environment – it was an all-round amazing experience.”
Based on the songs of famous Largs duo Benny Gallagher and Graham Lyle, the ambitious production follows the lives of Largs sweethearts Joe and Mhairu on either side of the Atlantic, and through the decades. With a script by another long-time successful duo, Maggie Kinloch, Theatre Director and Deputy Principal of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (RCS) in Glasgow, and Viv Adam, best known as a writer on River City and numerous stage plays, ‘Caledonia USA’ is already generating interest from across the UK and abroad.
Melissa tells of the buzz during performances at Largs’ Barrfields Theatre, where the audience included RCS colleagues Andrew Panton, Artistic Director of Musical Theatre, and Jeffrey Sharkey, Principal; Tom Urie, River City’s ‘Big Bob’, as well as writer Philip Larkin; Theatre director Andrew McGregor; Cilla and Artie of The Signing Kettle; and all the way from Wisconsin, Amy Ludwigsen, Artistic Director of the ‘Door Shakespeare Theatre’, alongside a commercial producer direct from Dublin.
“Producers from London, New York, and France were in the audience, and the writers and cast of River City. Gallagher and Lyle were there as well, and they even performed at the end. They made me go on stage, which was a bit embarrassing, but it was lovely to meet them and they gave us an amazing review for make-up.”
Meeting Benny Gallagher had extra meaning for Melissa, as once they got talking it soon became clear they were family.
“I was lucky enough to meet Benny and Graham, and was amazed to find out that Benny is a relation of mine. It meant it was an extra special honour to meet him, and a great chance talk about family.”
Performances are finished for now, but such was the success of this short sold-out run, it’s hoped the show will tour, within Scotland, the UK, and beyond.