When Girl from the North Country first premiered at The Old Vic in 2017, it received rave reviews. The show then transferred into the West End, crossed the pond to Broadway, headed off on several tours, and picked up a stream of awards along the way. Now the smash hit has returned to where it all began for a strictly limited summer run...
OUR VERDICT
Manuel Harlan
First and foremost - Girl from the North Country is not a Bob Dylan biography - it’s a jukebox musical / more of a play with music featuring Dylan’s iconic songs. It’s the work of award-winning playwright Conor McPherson who has set his story in 1934, where the community of Duluth, Minnesota (Dylan’s birthplace) are battling their way through the aptly-named Great Depression.
The dark and melancholy drama unfolds in the failing boarding house of the Laine family – Elizabeth Laine (Katie Brayben) has dementia and her husband, Nick (Colin Connor), is angrily buckling under the pressure of life. Their adopted daughter, Marianne (Justina Kehinde), is pregnant, unmarried, and being aggressively pursued by a (much) older man.
Manuel Harlan
Sad and dysfunctional characters come and go, each bringing with them their own tragic tales, which span everything from blackmail and racist abuse to death and delusion. It's an unrelenting unfolding of tragedies from start to finish, with a light sprinkling of wit. I sat down for the second act optimistic that things might improve for some of the show’s unlucky characters. They don’t.
An intriguing selection of Dylan’s songs have been skilfully and creatively rearranged and are all beautifully, if dolefully, delivered. Familiar numbers include Make You Feel My Love, Idiot Wind, Like a Rolling Stone, I Want You and Katie Brayben’s mesmerising rendition of Forever Young, but at times there is a confusing disconnection between the storyline and Dylan’s lyrics.
Manuel Harlan
Rae Smith’s sleepy, sepia-hued set adds to the impact of the dusty and decidedly downbeat drama, whilst Mark Henderson’s atmospheric lighting sets the sombre mood and cleverly illuminates the cast as they form striking silhouettes upstage.
With the exception of one inconsistent accent, the delivery of the show is slickly seamless, and all the performances are of an incredibly high standard. The company of 23 actors and musicians smoothly transition between character, chorus, and live band, delivering huge talent and compelling energy across the board.
Manuel Harlan
The star of the show is undoubtedly Katie Brayben, who is utterly captivating as the dementia-stricken Elizabeth. Sifiso Mazibuko delivers both powerful vocals and a gripping presence as ex-con boxer Joe Scott, whilst charismatic Teddy Kempner is perfect as the predatory Mr Perry. David Ganly is dynamic and eventually devastating as Mr Burke - a guest at the Laine's boarding house, and the multi-talented Rebecca Thornhill is also brilliant as his embittered wife, Mrs Burke.
Feel-good it ain’t, but there’s no denying that Girl from the North Country is a skilfully executed, poignant and powerful piece.
Until Aug 23, tickets from £15. oldvictheatre.com
