This is the second production to take place since the reopening of the Theatre Royal Sydney. The show which has had successful productions on Broadway and the West End was written and directed by Conor McPherson.
The story is set in a boarding house in Duluth, Minnesota on the shores of Lake Superior. It’s the winter of 1934 and America is in the grip of the Great Depression. Duluth is the town where Bob Dylan grew up in.
The play features an on stage narrator, the family’s Doctor, Doctor Walker (Terrence Crawford).
The owner of the boarding house is Nick Laine (Peter Kowitz), whose life is slowly unravelling. He is stressed out trying to meet the mortgage payments on the boarding house.
His wife Elizabeth (Lisa McCune) has dementia, his son Gene (James Smith) is an alcoholic and without a job.
Nick and his wife raised Afro-American Marianne who was abandoned as a baby by a couple who stayed at the guesthouse. She is now 19, five months pregnant and unmarried. Nick is anxious to find a husband for her and is looking in hope at shoe mender Mr Perry (Peter Carroll).
To complicate matters further Nick is having an affair with one of his tenants Mrs Nielsen (Christina O’Neill). Adding to the drama he struggles to keep up with the mortgage payments on the guest house.
Other tenants include the Burke family: the domineering father (Greg Stone), people pleasing wife (Helen Dallimore) and intellectually impaired young adult son Elias (Blake Erickson).
Adding to the mix are two other lost souls: a Black boxer Joe Scott (Callum Francis) and creepy Bible salesman Reverend Marlowe (Grant Piro).
Highlights of the show include a lovely version of ‘I Want You’ when Kate (Elizabeth Hay) announces to Gene that she is breaking up with him and that she has found a new man in her life.
There was also a great version of the classic Bob Dylan song ‘Like A Rolling Stone’ sung by Lisa McCune.
The performances by the primary cast members were all great. Special mention goes to one of Australia’s great veteran, thespians Peter Carroll.
Chernon Theys, Samantha Morley, Tony Black, Liam Wigney, Tony Cogin and Laurence Coy shine in an impressive ensemble backed by an excellent band featuring Mark Harris, Tracy Lynch and Cameron Henderson performing livc on stage under Musical Director Andrew Ross.
There were 22 Dylan songs performed, parts thereof, during the show, chosen by McPherson from Dylan’s vast catalogue. Dylan songs weren’t sung until their end as there were quick segues into further dialogue and action.
Resident Director Corey McMahon ably took the reins from Conor McPherson for the Australian season.
Simon Hale’s arrangements of Dylan’s songs were very impressive.
The choreography by Lucy Hind was outstanding with very fluid large group movements.
Rae Smith’s set design was an open one with cast members bringing on furniture pieces as required. There were large images of cityscapes and the Minnesota countryside dropping in at different times during the show.
This was an entertaining, poignant musical. GIRL FROM NORTH COUNTRY is playing the Theatre Royal Sydney until Sunday 27 February 2022. Tickets https://www.northcountry.com.au/
It has been announced today that the season of GIRL FROM THE COUNTRY has been extended by three weeks and will now close on the 19th March 2022.
Sydney Arts Guide has ten double passes to give away to the performance on Tuesday 8 February 2022 at 6.30pm and ten double passes to give away to the performance on Wednesday 9 February 2022. Email editor.sydneyartsguide@gmail.com with GIRL FROM NORTH COUNTRY PROMOTION in the subject heading and specify the performance you would like to attend. Winners will be advised by email.