Being Bob Dylan fans, we were very much looking forward to this production coming to Nottingham Theatre Royal.
This musical uses exclusively Bob Dylan music and lyrics whilst telling the story of the coming and goings of a ‘Flop House’ in Duluth, Minnesota (1934) during the great depression. Nick Laine (Colin Connor) is the proprietor of the down on its heels establishment, yet he is doing his best to provide for his family and guests, the bank is about to foreclose on him and his wife Elizabeth (Frances McNamee) has dementia, he is struggling.
The narrator of this sad story is the local doctor, Dr Walker (Chris McHallem) happily giving out medication and homilies.Bob Dylan songs such as ‘Tight Connection to my Heart’, ‘Make you feel my Love’, ‘Idiot Wind’ , ‘Forever Young’ were presented to the Audience using both solos and soulful harmonies, stand out voices for me were Daniel Reid- Walters whose voice we heard first, Eve Norris and the truly enjoyable Frances McNamee.
The character of Elizabeth will stay with me for a long time, Frances gave us a first class performance, with her acting, the delivery of class one liners, dance skills, plus her pure voice in ‘Forever Young’. Wow.
I strongly suggest you go see for yourself, at Theatre Royal Nottingham on until Saturday 15th October including two matinees.
Review by Ann Taylor
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