Girl from the North Country has arrived at Melbourne’s Comedy Theatre and officially opened last night with a star-studded guest list including, Lord Mayor Sally Capp, Rhonda Burchmore, Debra Lawrence, Jane Bunn, Georgia Love, Tottie Goldsmith, Todd Woodbridge, Mason Cox, and Dane Swan.
The stellar cast took us back in time to 1934, when a group of wanderers meet one another by chance and stay at a guest house.
All are standing at a turning point in life with each one of them encountering financial troubles, one pregnant on her own and reliant on her parents with a mother who’s played by the incredible Lisa Mc Cune who’s suffering from a form of Dementia in her later life.
Dad played by Peter Kowitz struggles to keep it all going, with borders paying the bills but that isn’t enough to keep the guest house afloat. His son a struggling poet hasn’t an income and it’s only when push comes to shove, that he says he’ll look for work, however, it’s all too little too late!
The scene is set during the Great Depression, it’s chilly winter and everyone is down on their luck. All in search of a future and wanting to hide from the past, they find themselves facing unspoken truths. This story is brilliantly told by a stellar cast and one we can all relate to in one way or another. Life is never easy all the time that’s for sure.
The vocals are outstanding and something I enjoyed immensely throughout the award-winning Broadway musical. Featuring the songs of Bob Dylan reimagined as you’ve never heard them before, they include Hurricane, Like a Rolling Stone, To Make You Feel My Love, and Forever Young.
Written and directed by multi-award-winner Conor McPherson (The Weir, The Seafarer), and starring stage and screen icon Lisa McCune, Peter Kowitz (Janet King), and Helpmann Award winners Peter Carroll, Helen Dallimore, and Greg Stone.
Hailed “A TRIUMPH!” (Washington Post), this uplifting story of American life promises to be the theatrical event of 2022.
For more information and tickets please see https://www.northcountry.com.au/
Review Melinda Sullivan
Photography by Fiona Hamilton
