Conor McPherson's "Girl from the North Country" is a play with music and rather than a musical. Just like good film-music, Bob Dylan’s songs underline the atmosphere of the play, pace the action and deepen the plays impact. The arrangements of the songs and their performance by the actors in this play are a joy to listen to. Sheila Atim's magnetic singing performance and Shirley Henderson's compelling acting are outstanding.
Duluth- Minnesota 1934. The middle-aged couple Nick (Ciaran Hinds) and Elizabeth (Shirley Henderson) own a guest house. Since Elizabeth has descended into what appears to be early-onset dementia, Nick has lost control over the couple’s finances. Their son Gene (Sam Reid) and adopted daughter Marianne (Sheila Atim) still live at home. The other guests and visitors have been stranded there more or less temporarily by the vagaries of fate and the Great Depression that have shattered comfortable lives and American dreams. What remains, are attempts to preserve some dignity and make the best out of the hand life has dealt them. These are emotionally and physically awkward moves of individuals in existential crises to connect with another on a pragmatic, romantic or social level to reignite a sense of self-worth from which to build a future.
Without music, this play is a melodrama which reminds one of Tennessee Williams. Very watchable even if it doesn’t come up to that great writer’s level. By weaving judiciously selected Bob Dylan’s ballads into the action a special touch is added. With the help of a superbly talented cast of actors and singers this is carried off superbly. Sheila Atim shines with a magnetic singing performance, Shirley Henderson with compelling acting.
This is a play with music and rather than a musical. Just like good film-music, Bob Dylan’s songs underline the atmosphere of the play, pace the action and deepen the plays impact. The arrangements of the songs and their performance by the actors in this play are a joy to listen to. The songs neither trivialize nor disrupt the play on the contrary. So, I did get over the slight pang of disappointment about Dylan’s son “Girl from the North Country” which gives this play its name is not actually being performed as part of the play, not even as a post play extra.
Having said this, “Girl from The North Country” has everything that makes a visit to the theatre in London a moving and uplifting experience. Direction, set and ensemble-acting are of a high standard and the song performances are at times stunningly beautiful. A great evening at the theatre.
https://www.delfontmackintosh.co.uk/tickets/girl-from-the-north-country/
Duluth- Minnesota 1934. The middle-aged couple Nick (Ciaran Hinds) and Elizabeth (Shirley Henderson) own a guest house. Since Elizabeth has descended into what appears to be early-onset dementia, Nick has lost control over the couple’s finances. Their son Gene (Sam Reid) and adopted daughter Marianne (Sheila Atim) still live at home. The other guests and visitors have been stranded there more or less temporarily by the vagaries of fate and the Great Depression that have shattered comfortable lives and American dreams. What remains, are attempts to preserve some dignity and make the best out of the hand life has dealt them. These are emotionally and physically awkward moves of individuals in existential crises to connect with another on a pragmatic, romantic or social level to reignite a sense of self-worth from which to build a future.
Without music, this play is a melodrama which reminds one of Tennessee Williams. Very watchable even if it doesn’t come up to that great writer’s level. By weaving judiciously selected Bob Dylan’s ballads into the action a special touch is added. With the help of a superbly talented cast of actors and singers this is carried off superbly. Sheila Atim shines with a magnetic singing performance, Shirley Henderson with compelling acting.
This is a play with music and rather than a musical. Just like good film-music, Bob Dylan’s songs underline the atmosphere of the play, pace the action and deepen the plays impact. The arrangements of the songs and their performance by the actors in this play are a joy to listen to. The songs neither trivialize nor disrupt the play on the contrary. So, I did get over the slight pang of disappointment about Dylan’s son “Girl from the North Country” which gives this play its name is not actually being performed as part of the play, not even as a post play extra.
Having said this, “Girl from The North Country” has everything that makes a visit to the theatre in London a moving and uplifting experience. Direction, set and ensemble-acting are of a high standard and the song performances are at times stunningly beautiful. A great evening at the theatre.
https://www.delfontmackintosh.co.uk/tickets/girl-from-the-north-country/
