photo by Evan Zimmerman of MurphyMade
Girl From the North Country transports audiences to a guesthouse in Duluth, Minnesota, 1934 where a group of strangers live as they try to get back on their feet during the Great Depression. Written and directed by celebrated playwright Conor McPherson and featuring Tony Award®-winning orchestrations by Simon Hale, this show (nominated for seven Tonys) is set to the music of Bob Dylan. You can catch it in Philadelphia at the Forrest Theatre through March 10th.
Head of the house, Nick Laine (John Schiappa) knows the bank is going to foreclose and he’s faced with finding a way to save his family from being out on the street. He wants the best for his wife Elizabeth, who is suffering from dementia (an outstanding performance by Jennifer Blood) and his adult children- Gene, who wants to be a writer, but needs a steady job, and Maryanne- who is pregnant and will need a place to go and someone to take care of her. Characters come and go, moving the story along and showing us how their personal troubles affect one another.
Ben Biggers, as Gene, has a standout number with “I Want You”, also featuring Bucks County’s Chiara Trentalange as Kate Draper. Trentalange serves as dance and fight captain for the production too. Penn State graduate Aidan Wharton, as Elias, has heartbreaking scenes as the disabled son of a once well-off couple who lost their business in the stock market crash. He’ll give you chills as he sings “Duquesne Whistle”. You’ll hear 20+ of Dylan’s iconic folk songs spanning from the 1960s to 2010s, each telling this story of hope and hardship, and highlighting the emotions of the characters. Most of them have their own time to shine at the mic, but keep your eyes on the stage during “Like a Rolling Stone” sung by Jennifer Blood or “Jokerman” by the cast. It’s a thrill to watch this cast make music together.
Girl From the North Country is unlike most Broadway shows you’ll see this season, or any season. Everyone in Duluth is falling apart, even the house they live in, but the music of Dylan gives strength to their stories and leaves us wondering what this time in American must have been like for so many people.
Tickets here.
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