Basket
Remaining time: 

    Girl from the North Country in 250 words

    Girl From the North Country is the relentlessly melancholy story of a group of people living in America in the 1930s. The production (which feels like more of a play with music than a musical per se), is atmospheric and intimate, but ultimately misses the mark.

    Girl from the North Country in 250 words

    The plot-line of Girl From the North Country is sparse when it comes to both light humour and dramatic events, so the melancholy of the show goes uninterrupted. This may be an accurate reflection of the era, but it leaves you with a show which is not especially stirring.

    Lots of moments which could have become significant were instead glossed over. I was left feeling unsatisfied and frustrated as various threads of plot were picked up, but then left unaddressed.

    The atmosphere created by the music and staging of Girl From the North Country is another story. Plot aside, it is hard not to be drawn into the characters portrayed. Bob Dylan's music is woven seamlessly into the show and it is performed with passion and finesse. Sheila Atim has a particularly stunning voice and fills her character's songs with life.

    So the plot of the show can be a bit unsatisfying, but Girl From the North Country is, in essence, a show whose merits rest on the soulful, intimate, melancholy atmosphere it creates. If that sparks your curiosity, then this may be a show you'd really enjoy.

    Girl From the North Country is playing at London's Noël Coward Theatre until the 24th March 2018.



    Related news

    Three musicians in 1970s outfits gather around a microphone in a recording studio.

    The Best of Both Worlds: Why Plays with Music Are Having a Moment

    Posted on | By Hay Brunsdon |

    Theatre has always thrived on variety. Straight plays bring us the thrill of great writing and performance; musicals ... Read more

    Ncuti Gatwa in Born With Teeth

    First look: Ncuti Gatwa and Edward Bluemel star in Born With Teeth

    Posted on | By Sian McBride |

    Previews are underway for Liz Duffy Adams’ Born With Teeth at Wyndham’s Theatre, and with today’s r... Read more

    Andrew Lincoln, Joe Alwyn and Alicia Vikander. Photo by Johan Persson

    Making waves: First look at The Lady from the Sea rehearsals

    Posted on | By Sian McBride |

    Sea Alicia Vikander and Andrew Lincoln dive into Simon Stone’s bold new take on Henrik Ibsen, as first rehearsa... Read more

    Follow us for instant updates and special offers

    Sign up to our mailing list and be the first to hear about new West End shows and exclusive ticket discounts. We value your privacy. You can unsubscribe at any time. But we hope you won’t!