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Like a rolling stone, the marvellous Girl From The North Country has rocked back up at the Old Vic theatre…and 8 years on, it’s even better than the first time round, says Georgina Brown

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Girl From The North Country (Old Vic Theatre, London)

Verdict: Knocking on Heaven’s Door

Conor McPherson’s play, set in the 1930’s depression-era America, benefits greatly from three key factors:

1. The exceptional skill of McPherson as a writer and director in establishing an atmospheric setting.
2. An exceptional cast of actors, singers, and dancers portraying the downtrodden, fugitive, and afflicted characters that populate his play.
3. A soundtrack consisting of 23 songs from Bob Dylan, making McPherson the only playwright to receive such a unique opportunity from Dylan.

Captivated by Simon Hale’s mesmerizing arrangements, his music becomes a vessel for the almost indescribable feelings of spirits adrift, a melodic gust that whispers through my soul.

Initially staged at the Old Vic in 2017 and now brought back to life there, its impact has grown even stronger. Previously, we questioned whether it could succeed. Now, we recognize it as nothing short of extraordinary.

McPherson gathers his misfits in a run-down boarding house in Duluth, Minnesota.

Known primarily for his chilling play, The Weir, he possesses an uncanny ability to capture the essence of lives haunted by the remnants of shattered dreams.

On Rae Smith’s set bathed in a soft, sepia hue, Nick (played by Colin Connor), the hotel owner, is busy cooking stew for his weary guests, each of them either stuck in a rut or fleeing from something.

1. Dementia has taken away Elizabeth’s self-restraint completely.

2. Exceptional performer Katy Brayben sings as if she were an angel, performs wild dance moves like a rock star, and twirls about as if she were a whirling dervish.

3. Elizabeth no longer has any reservations due to dementia.

4. Katy Brayben’s singing is heavenly, her dancing resembles that of a rock star, and she moves with the grace of a whirling dervish.

5. Dementia has removed all restraints from Elizabeth.

6. Katy Brayben sings with an angelic voice, dances like a rock star, and spins around like a whirling dervish.

7. Elizabeth’s inhibitions have been lost due to dementia.

8. Katy Brayben’s singing is ethereal, her dance moves are reminiscent of a rock star, and she performs with the energy of a whirling dervish.

Simultaneously, Nick finds it challenging to convince his seventeen-year-old daughter Marianne (played brilliantly by Justina Kehinde) to agree to an elderly widower’s proposal of matrimony.

His wannabe-writer son Gene is drowning in rejection slips and drink.

His widowed mistress (sparkling Maria Omakinwa) is plotting a way out.

The respectable couple with a simple son are hiding something. 

Eugene McCoy’s Bible salesman lacks any divine quality, yet Sifiso Mazibuko’s former champion boxer exudes genuine kindness.

Eugene McCoy’s occupation as a Bible seller fails to convey any divine essence, whereas Sifiso Mazibuko’s past career as a boxing champion embodies an authentic gentleness.

The closing segment features a stunning, emotionally stirring performance of Like A Rolling Stone, but unlike the initial version, it concludes on a hopeful note with Moving On.

Special, and not to be missed.

Girl From The North Country is at the Old Vic until August 23.

 

  

Nye (Olivier, National Theatre, London)

Verdict: The end is Nye

Rufus Norris has reached his final days as the Artistic Director of the National Theatre. His swansong production is a revival of Tim Price’s play from last year, featuring Michael Sheen portraying the Welsh political figure Aneurin Bevan – the influential Labour politician who championed the establishment of the NHS following World War II.

The experience honors his life by reenacting crucial moments from it, as Nye experiences hallucinations triggered by morphine after a peptic ulcer surgery in 1959. (It was during this surgery that they discovered he was actually battling cancer.)

The play’s structure has been slightly adjusted, but it still runs for approximately two hours and forty minutes, showcasing an uplifting portrayal of political heroism.

In a significant group effort reminiscent of the “I am Spartacus” scene, we faced our early struggles with a speech impediment at school, which might be likened to a classroom-based battle for equality, or perhaps, metaphorically, a small-scale uprising among students.

However, Nye significantly developed his political voice while serving on Tredegar Council, eventually securing a seat as the Member for Ebbw Vale in Parliament. This tenure garnered him notable opposition from Neville Chamberlain and Winston Churchill.

At a certain moment, the spirit of his father guides him into the mine to demonstrate where to hit effectively to extract the maximum coal yield.

In this unique production by Norris, Sheen donned pyjamas all through, and the vast, emerald-hued curtains designed by Vicki Mortimer on stage served as screens of awareness. Undeniably, the entire setup showcases a clever approach to staging.

Instead, the creation hides a wistful and respectful tone, making what might have been a scathing critique of contemporary low-alcohol drinks feel more like a tender, nostalgic tribute instead.

National Theatre, London, until August 16; Wales Millennium Centre August 22-30.

PATRICK MARMION 

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2025-07-17 21:18

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