Show: Girl From The North Country
Location: Empire Theatre, Liverpool
Date: Wednesday January 11 2023, On Tour Until Saturday March 18 2023
Time: 19.30
Running Time: 120 Minutes
Age Rating: 12+
Producer: Runaway Entertainment
Writer And Director: Conor McPherson
Designer: Rae Smith
Band: The Howlin’ Winds
Musical Director: Andrew Corcoan
Movement Director: Lucy Hind
This is our review of Girl From The North Country at Liverpool‘s Empire Theatre. So, let’s take a look at Girl From The North Country!
Description Of Girl From The North Country
Not as you may suppose (I did..) a sort of biography of Bob Dylan, this show is inspired by his songs, and if somewhat cobbled together, that’s not to say any lack of craftmanship but a few songs, like Hurricane seem to have been (oh dear) shoehorned in.
Set in Duluth, Bob Dylan’s hometown, as y’all know, but in the 1930’s Depression years, in a down-at-heels boarding house, full of down-on-their-luck tenants, the staging is at once busy, furniture mixed in with musical instruments, and lost on the vast Empire stage. It is also, ok, fittingly, murky, as are most of the costumes, which enhances the glamour of Mesdames Neilson and Burke.
Analysis Of Girl From The North Country
And rather than the songs complimenting the plot, the musical performances outshine it, with showstoppers such as Like A Rolling Stone. This is part of an incandescent performance from Frances McNamee, whose snappy comments help provide the occasional humour, which overall tends to work because of the largely unexpected dry observations.
As Elizabeth, the evidently dementia-stricken wife of landlord Nick Laine (Colin Connor, with his weary, exasperated efforts to hold everything together), she also on occasion talks a great deal of sense (like the Narrator, Doctor Walker, a dignified Chris McHallem, doing his best to fill in the gaps), although it can be tricky to adjust when she shifts from shuffling shadow to jaunty dancer and wholehearted singer.
Of course, everybody has a story to tell, with a deal of overlap. And confusion; as one lady said behind me ‘So in the end, they all die…’; actually, not all of them, but just one couple seems to have their happy ending. Yet even with most of the loose ends tied up, often it still presents more of a knotty problem than a smooth loop.
Focus
So, assuming the eponymous girl is Marianne Laine, let’s focus on her. Passionately, and compassionately, played by Justine Kehinde, Laine’s adopted daughter is pregnant and father Nick has the bright idea of persuading elderly Mr. Parry to woo her. Despite lively, if wry, efforts from Teddy Kempner, she is not impressed, nor, initially, by Joe Scott (a splendid Joshua C Jackson), who has landed on the doorstep with Reverend Matthews, a convincing Eli James, whether Holier Than Thou or unholy shyster. But Joe has high hopes for a future in Chicago and eventually persuades Marianne to accompany him.
Yes, the other stories are too numerous to mention let alone describe but all you need to do is consider writers like Steinbeck (the Burke family) and Tennessee Williams: Gregor Milne’s poignant portrayal of wastrel Gene Laine; that ultimate cliché, the drunken would-be writer. Anyway, very much on the plus side, the cast was possessed of wondrous voices, in particular, James Staddon (Mr. Burke) in the duet with his wife (Rebecca Thornhill), and Maria Omakinwa as Mrs. Neilsen. You had to wonder nonetheless how such a strong woman would end up as a mistress, as well as being fleeced out of a fortune.
Summary Of Girl From The North Country
Watching something aimed at showing boredom, you risk being bored; something bleak can leave you feeling empty. All human life may be here but in a stew. It’s a mishmash, if fragrant and savoury through the amazing choreography; with its use of crowd scenes and silhouettes etc, as original and spi8ky as anything by Fosse. And of course, the incredible songs were received rapturously by the audience.
