Fringe review: LENA, Feather Productions - Edinburgh Festival Fringe

1974. 10-year-old singing sensation Lena Zavaroni rockets to stardom on TV talent show, "Opportunity Knocks". 25 years on, we encounter a drastically different Lena. Disclosing the fortunes that have befallen her in the intervening years recounts a dramatic, bittersweet, profoundly affecting story.

Written by Tim Whitnall and directed by Paul Hendy, Lena is the heartbreaking story of a young girl separated from her family in rural Scotland and thrown into the bright lights of London and stardom. Erin Armstrong plays Lena whose portrayal is outstanding. From the young enthusiastic child through to broken adult, her journey is so moving, capturing the pressures of the big wide world that she just wasn't ready to face on her own. Her vocals are captivating.

Alan McHugh plays Lena's father, a passionate performance encompassing the love and pride for Lena and the disappointment in himself at letting is daughter down.

Accompanied by a live band with musical direction by Matthew Brown, Lena is a beautifully tragic story performed by a talented cast and we can't wait to see it go further. Audiences need to see and hear this.

Poignantly wonderful!

***** Five stars

Reviewed by: Rachel Louise martin

Lena plays in the Gordon Aikman Theatre, Assembly George Square at 12.35pm until 28 August.