THE GRAPES OF WRATH, Birmingham Rep till 31 October
The Grapes of Wrath: Adapted by Frank Galati, from the novel by John Steinbeck
Birmingham Rep: www.birmingham-rep.co.uk
Touring
Runs: 3h, one interval, at Birmingham Rep till 31 October
Review: Rod Dungate, 21 October 2009
Something special going on in the heart-rending tale.
The acting space is filled with stooks of corn, the company fills the space to the haunting sound of American Traditional Folk Singing. The corn is removed. You feel you are in for a special event - and you are!
Jonathan Church’s production is quite beautiful. It has the magical power to move, a power created in its simplicity and sincerity. It’s gently paced but everyone has a job to do; so while the focus may be in this dualogue here, or that interaction there, the space is filled with people living there lives.
In some ways Steinbeck’s novel can be seen as the triumph of the human spirit against massive adversity; in other ways it can be seen as the dreadful toll a free market, capitalist economy wreaks on its human victims. In truth, the story of this family moving across America to escape the poverty of the dust bowls for the (supposed) untold riches of the west, can be seen as both. Herein its complexity and its many layers.
This is an acting company to match the epic nature of the story and it’s uniformly strong.
Christopher Timothy and Sorcha Cusack are Pa and Ma Joad. Both combine a gentle solidness with a warm humanity; these are matter-of-fact people that you’d be happy to put your trust - no your faith - in. They’re unshowy, salt-of-the-earth. Oliver Cotton is a splendid ex-preacher who finds his soul and something more important than religion to speak about. Damian O’Hare as Tom Joad is a fine young man (albeit an accidental killer) whose journey we are more than happy to take.
Jonathan Church directs with great skill, sensitivity and boldness.
William Armstrong: Uncle John.
Paul Barnhill: Weedpatch Camp Director / Salesman / Proprietor
Tony Bell: Salesman / 1st Agricultural Officer / Floyd Knowles
Oliver Cotton: Revernd Jim Casy.
Sorcha Cusack: Ma Joad.
Mark Field: Al Joad.
Jennifer Hill: Granma Joad.
Gina Isaac:: Mrs Floyd Knowles / Elizabeth Sandry.
Richard Kane: Grampa Joad.
Anne Kavanagh: Woman Washing / Mayor’s Wife.
Neil McNulty: Connie Rivers.
Matthew Needham: Noah Joad.
Fergus O”Donnell: Muley Graves / Young Thin Man.
Damian O”Hare: Tom Joad.
Holly Dale Spencer: Al’s Girl / Aggie Wainwright.
Michael Stevenson: Willy / Gas Attendant.
Christopher Timothy: Pa Joad.
Andrew Westfield: Salesman / Man Going Back / Deputy Sheriff.
Benny Young: Salesman / Station Owner / Mayor of Hooverville.
Director: Jonathan Church.
Designer: Simon Higlett.
Lighting Designer: Tim Mitchell.
Music and Songs: John Tams.
Choreography and Additional Staging: Stephen Mear.
Music Associate: Matthew Scott.
Sound Designer: Jonathan Suffolk.
Fight Director: Terry King.
Casting Director: Gabrielle Dawes.
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2009-10-21 15:29:22