Girl From The North Country

Really happy they are releasing a cd.. the musical performances were something very special

I went on Saturday and I really enjoyed it. I didn't LOVE it, because as you say, the play itself is a bit haphazard and doesn't really go anywhere, but the songs more than make up for it. I'll definitely be buying the cast CD as I really want to hear the songs again. Sheila Atim was fabulous and I loved Debbie Kurup's first song and Shirley Henderson's Like a Rolling Stone in particular.

I got a cheap restricted view seat in the stalls thanks to advice on Theatremonkey (I normally avoid restricted view) and it wasn't really restricted at all! I thought the view was excellent to be honest, and I paid a third of what the person next to me paid!

There were some idiots in on Saturday though. All the people in the middle of the row stood at the side drinking until the last second and then decided to clamber in over me - didn't even say anything or I'd have got up. I just had a group of women clambering over my lap at the last minute, clutching their two drinks each. The bloke next to me kept texting all the way through as well, which was really annoying.

Ha! I need to learn.

Instead, I settled for glaring at them from behind and whispering 'you're welcome' at them under my breath. That'll learn em.

I saw this last week. I felt in some ways it was a bit of a miss-match and thought it was a little awkward at times, but the musical performances blew me away and I was one of a number of people up in the circle in tears at that ending. In fact I was still crying when I got to my station. Can't wait for the cast recording!

Remaining dates seem to be virtually sold out aside from side benches. Bit of a shame (but pleased for show) as I had planned to take couple of singers on their night off from UK tour but now looks unlikely unless some returns pop up. The Like a Rolling Stone advert out yesterday excites me even more re album.

Definitely transferring.. expect an announcement imminently..

Lynette can you teach us all this trick Please, sounds delightful and most useful

It's on Spotify guys! Great recording

At the interval. I like this a lot so far. Very interesting use of both iconic and lesser known songs.

OK, my thoughts, which will be formulated more clearly when I have had a chance to reflect more:

1. Ciaran Hinds clearly can't sing as he plays no part at all in any of the musical numbers, not even in the background. Unless this is a deliberate choice to show how isolated he is from everything going on. Dunno. He's far too shouty in this though. I didn't feel for him as I thought I should have done.

2. Bronagh Gallagher (who I recognised for a TV version of 'Shadow of a Gunman' years and years ago) was absolutely terrific as the ignored wife and devastated mother. And she's a dab hand on the drums too.

3. I wasn't convinced by some of the plot points. For e.g. Gene being so stereotypically racist when his parents took in and raised a black child, and his duet of regret when his childhood (I assume) love leaves town.

4. Shirley Henderson is totally convincing as the broken spirit lost in dementia, and the soaring, shining spark who comes alive in song.

5. The use of Dylan songs is very clever, but is used a little too much to paper over the cracks in what plot there is; however, the performance of the songs is absolutely top-notch, by everyone.

6. Ron Cook (Mr Crabb from 'Mr Selfridge') is a decent but pointless narrator, and the ending monologue doesn't even need to be there, I would have ended with the couple at the table and faded to black.

7. Jim Norton (Bishop Brennan forever!) gives yet another superb performance as the old widower (and he seems to enjoy dancing and singing in the group numbers). I thought he was one of the best of the non-showy roles.

8. The set is fantastic in its simplicity, and the way the songs are done to the audience makes it feel rather like dream sequences rather than the structure of a traditional musical. 'Slow Train' and 'Hurricane' were high points for me.

9. Sheila Atim, Michael Shaeffer, Debbie Kurup, and even a rather flat Stanley Townsend did well in their numbers. There's one other standout but to reveal it would spoil a plot point.

10. In summary, a hard working cast in a play which feels it has too many loose threads, but there are some excellent nuggets here and there, with two marriages showing their cracks, people pretending to be what they are not, people being accused of things they didn't do, and a very interesting use of space, light and shadows in some of the musical sections.

**** from me.

I am wanting to see this in the end week and have been too busy to see it before. I would like to get return ticket but tried to ring the box office and they were quite blunt in saying they probably won't get any. Does anyone have any advise or way of being notified if the website updates. If I can't can't tickets I really hope I can see the transfer though.
Thanks

Call me old-fashioned, but I'm one of those strange people who still likes to physically own music on a shiny, silver disc. That's why I found myself in HMV yesterday afternoon flicking through the Shows & Musicals rack (and putting it back into some sort of order).

The OCR of Girl from the North Country is now in stock, at what I thought was a very reasonable £9.99.