In a more than remarkable play, moving forward with the inspired suggestion of Music Director Ryan Touhey, Playwright Conor McPherson and the Arden Theatre are putting Girl from the North
Country on the mainstage.
A musical opening starts the play as actor-musicians tell the story, deftly adding Bob Dylan’s songs to McPherson’s outstanding narrative. Girl from the North Country, an ingeniously put together saga, requires expert direction and fine actors to pull it off. The Arden has done just that. Terrence J. Nolen’s direction is spot-on, and the timing is perfect.
Characters are well constructed and interesting. The question arises. Are the actors great and accomplished musicians, or are the musicians great and accomplished actors? The answer is Yes.
Bringing Bob Dylan’s songs fit the mood of the play perfectly. Shakespeare was a poet who acted and wrote plays. Dylan, as the Nobel committee confirmed, is a poet who composes songs and performs his own work.
With all the brilliant, riveting, and totally absorbing individual and group performances, playwright
McPherson has crafted a work of great complexity. Director Nolen says he thought this work by
McPherson was like a play written by Eugene O’Neill.
The first hour of Girl from the North Country gives us incidental music and a brief introduction to characters who will delve into the meat of the story later. Only after this do we get Dylan.
The play is long, but with the brilliance of what’s happening on the stage, the audience loved it and gave a standing ovation. The Arden has scored another hit.
[Arden Theatre Co.] September 24-October 25, 2026; ardentheatre.org