Girl From the North Country

 Girl From the North Country
Belasco Theatre
December 22, 2021 

Photo courtesy of Girl From the North Country

Girl From the North Country takes place in a rooming house in Duluth, Minnesota in 1934.  Each character has a different story, each full of heartache.  What unites them is the music of Bob Dylan.  Conor McPherson wrote and directed this production.  He weaves the stories together, offering hope, then taking it away.  The company brilliantly creates genuine moments that pull the audience into the needs of the characters.  As their stories progress, the characters face grim realities, yet they all continue on.  

Nick Laine (played by Jay O. Sanders) runs the rooming house.  His wife, Elizabeth (played by Mare Winningham), suffers from a form of dementia.  Their son, Gene (played by Aidan Wharton, u.s.), is an aspiring writer who drinks too much.  Their daughter, Marianne (played by Kimber Elayne Sprawl), is pregnant and unmarried.  Nick arranges with Mr. Perry (played by Tom Nelis) to marry Marianne.  He is quite a bit older than she is, and Marianne is not interested.  Mrs. Neilsen (played by Jeanette Bayardelle) is waiting for the settlement of her late husband’s will.  She is having an affair with Nick, and planning on using the money from the settlement to go into business with him.  Mr. and Mrs. Burke (played by Marc Kudisch and Luba Mason) have an adult son, Elias (played by Todd Almond), who is developmentally delayed.  When two unexpected guests, Joe Scott (played by Austin Scott) and Reverend Marlowe (played by Matt McGrath), arrive looking for rooms, they upset the already troubled lives of the residents of the rooming house.  

Austion Scott & Kimber Elayne Sprawl
Photo courtesy of Girl From the North Country

Nick and Marianne prepare a Thanksgiving dinner for all the guests.  It is a hardy celebration, then gradually the hope that each character has starts to run dry.  Marianne and Joe Scott are drawn together, mostly out of desperation, yet it is their risky decision to leave the rooming house together that takes their lives in a better direction. 

Robert Joy plays Dr. Walker.  He narrates the story, setting the pace and filling in the backstory and details.  This establishes the storytelling style for the piece and the tone for the performance.  Kimberly Elaine Sprawl plays Marianne with a subtle fire and vigor.  She and Austin Scott have a strong chemistry.  They pull away from one another, only to become more drawn together.  It is captivating.  Their story stands out.  It is full of hope. 

Mare Winningham & Jay O. Sanders
Photoc courtey of Girl From the North Country

Mare Winningham shines as Elizabeth Laine.  Jay O. Sanders has a strong presence as Nick Laine.  Jeanette Bayardelle is bold as Mrs. Neilsen.  These three actors create truthful and  powerful relationships.  Ms. Bayardelle and Mr. Sanders have a vibrant attraction, yet it does not break the strong bond between Ms. Winningham and Mr. Sander’s characters.

The story of the Burke family is dark and tragic.  Marc Kudisch and Luba Mason skillfully portray the numerous levels of these complex characters.  Todd Almond brings a touching level of innocence to the character of Elias, who is truly unaware of his own strength. 

The characters in Girl Form the North Country are all waiting.  Some are hiding.  Some are running.  There is a sadness about them, yet they all press on (as they sing at the end of the show).  Bob Dylan’s lyrics take these stories to a deep emotional level.  His music engages your emotions.  Girl From the North Country is playing at the Belasco Theatre.  

Domenick Danza