“You Ain’t Going Nowhere” a review on Girl From the North Country by Lilly Grommes

-

 “You Ain’t Going Nowhere” a review on Girl From the North Country 


Girl from the North Country opened in Minneapolis amidst the fresh loss from the Minnesota Twins. The October air and freshly crushed spirits would set the scene for the night. The show played for a packed house but lacked the firepower to carry itself past its home of Minnesota.

The jukebox musical centers around Duluth, MN amid the Great Depression. Stories interweave through the guest house of Nick Laine, who is struggling to maintain a living with his two children and wife, who is battling early-onset dementia. Conor McPherson's musical uses the discography of Bob Dylan, born in Duluth himself. The Irish playwright saw his show take root in a run in London at the Old Vic then West End. After a series of shutdowns and other productions, the show finally got its tour three years after its opening on Broadway.

Given the musical's setting, it's only fitting that the show launched in Minneapolis. The colloquialisms present gave the audience a laugh, but in my opinion the response could become lost on non-Minnesotans. The production elements individually were beautiful. For example, the set consisted of minimal furniture and utilized translucent drops, complementing the detached, cold lighting. The singing and production numbers were stunning, especially during the show-stopping number "Duquesne Whistle" featuring Aidan Wharton, who played Elias Burke. 

In addition, the show utilized an orchestra on stage and various actors that supplemented their playing. 

Todd Almond and the Cast of Girl From The North Country on Broadway - photo by Matthew Murphy


Nonetheless, the biggest issue this production faced was that the show felt weaker as a whole. The musical can be challenging to follow since it does not take on the typical storytelling structure. The songs are not used as a continuation of the plot but rather as a conveyance of the emotion of the interaction, which makes the acting moments feel flat. The characters' storylines could only develop partially, which further muddied the production. Since the scenes did not progress with the music, it felt more like a play with music. After consulting Wikipedia and other sources during intermission to grasp the story, I could appreciate McPherson's intentions to an extent. However, failure to create a coherent piece that followed my sense of storytelling made the 2-hour and 30-minute run-time drag near the end. 

The production has stand-out elements, but given the extended run-time and lack of clarity, it's safe to skip this show in the lineup. For fans of Bob Dylan, the show omits popular songs like "Blowin' in the Wind" and “The Times They Are A-Changin." If that is not a game-changer, the show still has its merits and will run in Minneapolis at the Orpheum Theater until October 14th. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Some Like It Hot: A True Tip-Tap Treasure - by Sarah Zyskowski

-
One of the better screen-to-stage adaptations of its time, Some Like It Hot is a must-see performance that recently danced its way to the Orpheum Theatre. Sending the audience back in time to the infamous Prohibition, Some Like It Hot follows two musicians on the lam who disguise themselves as ladies and join an all-female band. Based on the classic 1959 film, this show brings its audience on a chaotic musical odyssey across the country filled with dazzling choreography, sharp humor, expressive costumes, and a deeper dive into gender identity. What stood out to me right away was the sheer talent these actors expressed through the power of dance. The “Tip-Tap Twins” Joe and Jerry swept the audience off their feet almost immediately with the intricate tap number “You Can’t Have Me (If You Don’t Have Him)” bursting with energy and excitement. Perfectly in unison, the satisfyingly crisp sounds of Matt Loehr and Tavis Kordell’s outstanding tapping talent set the stage for this dance-heavy ...
Read more

Les Misérables Is a Classic For a Reason by Katelyn Keyes

-
If I had to pick one word to encapsulate the current National Tour  of Les Misérables , it would be “art”. The lighting, designed by Paule Constable, transformed every scene into a painting, I could almost feel the sunlight on my face. The darkness was also used to the show’s advantage, leading to a shadowed opening; Prologue , where the low, rhythmic chorus deeply communicates the tragic circumstances the main character finds himself under. Imprisoned for simply stealing a loaf of bread to feed his family, Jean Valjean (Nick Cartell) breaks his parole and flees, leaving him to be chased by a relentless Inspector Javert (Nick Rehberger). Along the way, we meet Fantine (Lindsay Heather Pierce), her daughter Cosette (Emerson Mae Chen, Greta Scheafer, and Delaney Guyer in various ages), and others fighting for France in the Paris Uprising of 1832.  The story is told mainly through song, which, while it does demand more of the audience’s attention to follow the story, really h...
Read more

Book of Mormon Review - Katelyn Keyes

-
  What a show. The Book of Mormon is a riot on absolutely every level, leading to equal amounts of laughter and shock. The plot follows two Mormon missionaries on a quest to baptize the citizens of a small Ugandan village. As this show was written by Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the creators of South Park, one can expect crude, R-rated humor, and the show lived up to every such expectation. The actors embraced the outrageousness of the plot wholeheartedly, leading to flamboyant dance numbers that put my jaw on the floor. One of this show’s greatest strengths was the dedication of the actors, a show this off-color could easily rely on the simple shock value of the content to carry the performance, but each actor was motivated and made sure the entire plot came across, not just the jokes. This full-out commitment was especially prevalent in the dance numbers, which were just big enough to be spectacular without being over the top or ridiculous.  The best example of this would ...
Read more