Putting together a theatrical framework for Nobel Prize-winning artist Bob Dylan’s catalog of songs is a monumental task. Multi-award winning director Conor McPherson and his creative team have tackled this challenge with characteristic elegance and depth. There are few plays that can sweep you off your feet with a melancholic 1930s atmosphere as convincingly constructed as in this production. The set design, costumes, characters, dialogue, and of course, Bob Dylan’s immortal tunes, are all reminiscent of the Great Depression in 1930s America. The songs are intricately woven into the fabric of the story, resulting in a seamless presentation. McPherson is one of the most incredible playwrights Ireland has ever produced. He has won multiple Olivier Awards for plays such as The Night Alive and The Seafarer. In fact, Girl from the North Country also earned him an Olivier Award. McPherson has also won Drama Desk and Critics Circle Awards, and has been nominated for a Tony Award on several occasions. Girl from the North Country is undoubtedly one of his finest musical masterpieces.

The Story

The story is set in 1934, in the city of Duluth, Minnesota. Accompanied by haunting music, Dr. Walker begins narrating the grim tale. The Great Depression has left the country and its people in shambles, and the Laine family is no different. The bank has declared that it will foreclose on their property, but Nick Laine is intent on keeping a roof over his family’s heads. His wife is plagued by a strange form of dementia, his daughter is pregnant with the child of an unknown man, and his son is an alcoholic who hopes to be a writer. Another family, the Burkes, and a widow named Mrs. Neilsen also stay at Nick’s rundown guesthouse. When a bible salesman and a boxer seek shelter at the guesthouse on one stormy winter night, the situation implodes and spirals out of control.

Good For

Fans of Bob Dylan | History Buffs

Reviews

“ ‘Girl From the North Country’ Sets the Darkness Aglow”
- New York Times

“The music and especially the moody lyrics of Dylan songs take on fresh meaning in this revealing re-think by Conor McPherson.”
- Variety