Opening at the Old Vic in London in 2017, Girl From The North Country has brought to life the music and lyrics of Bob Dylan; transporting audiences to a struggling guest house in Duluth, Minnesota in the 1930’s during the height of the Great Depression. Tasked with encapsulating the life’s work of one of the greatest songwriters of a generation into a story of its own, writer and director Conor McPherson worked through Dylan’s full catalogue to intertwine songs about love, God and life. What follows is a story of travellers who find themselves thrust together, while trying to get by life’s twists and turns in the midwest.
The rundown guest house is managed by Nick Laine (Peter Kowitz), who is single handedly trying to help save his family as the banks begin to threaten foreclosure. His wife Elizabeth (Lisa McCune) has dementia, experiencing life in a child-like state, while their son Gene (James Smith) is a struggling writer with an alcohol problem. Their adopted daughter Marianne (Chemon Theys) is pushed towards settling down to marry the significantly older and financially stable businessman Mr Perry (Laurence Coy).
Drifters visiting the guesthouse include the family’s physician (and narrator of the story) Dr Walker (Terence Crawford), the widowed Mrs Neilson (Christina O’Neill) who is caught up in a love affair with Nick, bible salesman Reverend Marlowe (Grant Piro), the Burke family (Greg Stone, Helen Dallimore, Blake Erickson) and boxer Joe Scott (Elijah Williams). With such a dynamic range of characters and talents onstage, our favourite moments in the performance included the captivating stories from Peter Kowitz, the humour and well-timed outbursts of Lisa McCune, and the voices of Chemon Theys and Elijah Williams.
The music in the production comes directly from Dylan’s albums, and expands across the entirety of his catalogue. From Sign on the Window, Slow Train, Like a Rolling Stone, Make You Feel My Love, and Jokerman in the first half through, to Girl From The North Country, Hurricane, Idiot Wind, Is Your Love in Vain?, Forever Young, and Pressing On in the second half, the works span from 1970 through to 2012. Supported by Musical Director Andrew Ross, the band who performed onstage throughout the production did a fantastic job of bringing us into Dylan’s world.
From the man himself, Bob Dylan sent a note to be read aloud to the cast and audience when the show reopened on Broadway, reading ‘My songs couldn’t be in better hands’. Whether you are a big fan of Bob Dylan, or love attending the theatre, this show remains to be timeless.
Upcoming Dates Melbourne: 12th May 2022 – 4th June 2022 Auckland: From 30 June Wellington: From 21 July Canberra: From 25 August Brisbane: From 8 September
Tickets If you’d like to head into the world of the North Country, head over to the link here to purchase your tickets.
Photo Credit: Daniel Boud