Minnesotan Magic in a Musical - Girl From The North Country by Gabby Haake

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 Gabby Haake

Girl From The North Country 


Minnesotan Magic in a Musical


Name something more Minnesotan than a musical set in Duluth, packed with Minnesota-specific humor, featuring music by none other than the Bob Dylan. That’s right, you can’t! Set during the Great Depression, Conor McPherson’s Girl From The North Country contains all of these elements, while following different families’ stories and exhibiting themes of intense conflict, and intense love.


While watching Girl From The North Country, which I recommend you do, you’re guaranteed to have a laugh. The musical’s humor mostly consists of sarcasm/stating the obvious, which Jennifer Blood delivers hilariously. In addition, you’ll hear several relatable Minnesota remarks, for example, mention of our infamous 7 month long Winter. Be aware that this musical also contains plenty of explicit language, though usually used to contribute to humor, or firm moments. 


A strong question I had while watching (specifically the first half hour of) the show was, why a musical? Girl From The North Country seemed like it could've and should’ve been a play. It’s possible I felt this way due to its simple set and technical elements that were particularly dull in color, but I think the real reason was because it did such a good job at creating such heavy, emotional moments, all without music. Even at times when I struggled to grasp at the plot, it was effortless to become emotional. 


Although the musical aspects sometimes felt unnecessary, as I continued to watch, I wasn’t at all mad about them. Several numbers that were included were HEAVENLY, and stuck with me. Music director Wiley Deweese helped the cast do Dylan justice. The songs featured harmonies in which I could clearly hear each voice part, while they were also blending impeccably, creating an addictive sound. “Slow Train” was my all-time favorite, but “Like a Rolling Stone (reprise)” comes in at a close second, as it was the perfect way to end Act I. Even songs that were more lowkey were also enjoyable - they felt cozy. 


As far as technical elements, the lighting in Girl From The North Country wasn’t astonishing to me. The duration of the musical featured a pretty dim stage, which felt fitting for the show, but was nothing that caught my eye. At two points throughout the production, disco balls filled the auditorium with dazzling sparkle which was super enchanting, but didn’t really fit the vibe of the show! 


As opposed to the lighting aspects of tech, the sound aspects were engaging and BRILLIANT! Thanks to sound design Simon Baker, they were beautifully done and stood out to me. At one point, a sound effect came from backstage, almost causing me to jump out of my seat, which further immersed me in the story. Another example was during an extremely emotional scene involving the talented Matt Manuel, slight sounds of a thunderstorm as well as old, classical music accompanied a heavy argument, which added so much more to the scene. 


Although I was sometimes turned off by STUNNING and fitting elements not existing in harmony, Girl From The North Country is definitely worth experiencing. Blessing your ears with soulful harmonies, and connecting with fellow Minnesotans through the art of musical theater is a must. 

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