Girl from the North Country
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Date Reviewed: 05/02/2022
Debuting in 2018, this new musical has been experiencing significant success globally. Providing an unusual pairing of Bob Dylan’s 1960’s folk rock with 1930’s depression era Minnesota, Girl from the North Country pushes viewers away from many of the usual musical conventions and keeps you on the edge of your seats from start to finish.
Girl from the North Country uses music to convey the thoughts and raw emotions of each character; their hopes, dreams and sorrows. This connection is absolutely essentially for dealing with many of the challenging circumstances the characters find themselves in which range from mental illness to unwed pregnancy to death. Despite their difficult realities, each character comes to find solace and love at the Minnesota boarding house in which the play is set. From time to time Dr Walker (played by Terence Crawford) speaks straight to the audience, recounting the actions and happenings of the characters which gives fantastic flow to the story.
Each performer is incredibly talented and plays their part with conviction and perfect authenticity. The musical numbers are particularly poignant as viewers are given the opportunity to witness emotive and sweet-sweet song conveyed by deeply powerful voices. Particular attention must be given to Lisa McCune in her performance as the dementia stricken Elizabeth Laine. Throughout her performance, Lisa McCune manages to enchant audiences and at several instances I caught my eye wandering to her happenstance even when she was not the main character in the scene. Likewise, Helen Dallimore plays Mrs Burke with glamour and prowess, perfectly encapsulating her role as a middle-upper class devoted mother who has fallen on hard times.
Given how recently the Theatre Royal was refurbished, it goes without saying that Girl from the North Country utilises stellar modern production techniques including large screens as part of the set design. The use of an on stage band which integrated cast members from time to time was fantastic and enhanced the feelings of familiarity between cast and audience.
Conor McPherson, as both writer and director of this production, has perfectly encapsulated the emotions of the characters through a mix of plot, sound, light and music. The production offers a non-typical musical story showing the way society often casts aside those struggling, leaving them trapped and without a way to resolve their issues. Perfect for a deep and challenging night out. When you leave you will find yourself discussing the injustices and inequalities faced by the performers, and their stories will challenge your perceptions of society and individuals for days after.
Review by Cassandra Cheeseman