GIRL FROM THE NORTH COUNTRY Reopening Night Thread — Page 2

teatime2 said: "Caught the final performance today. I saw it twice and loved it. I don't remember Pressing On part of that iteration. Is that correct?"

I think it’s been in the show since it officially opened. It’s also the closing track on the cast album, which was recorded days before the Broadway shutdown.

The song is on the album, and in, all three times that I saw the show on Broadway.

I saw this show three times. See, I didn’t find the Elias character offensive - reminding me a lot of Lennie from “Of Mice & Men”. Keeping in mind, this show is set in 1934 during the Great Depression - most people like himself would’ve likely been discarded and institutionalized, but his parents kept him and still hoped he would be able to develop, even when it’s clear he won’t and then it’s alluded that he was involved in an accidental death; he and his parents are fleeing to protect him.

As for “Duquesne Whistle”, I personally interpreted it as a sequence where Elias is now free of the limitations and suffering he experienced while alive and is on his way to heaven in grand fashion. Though I no longer practice - being raised a Christian, I always heard that death releases those from earthly suffering on their way to a peaceful and pain free afterlife.

quizking101 said: "I saw this show three times. See, I didn’t find the Elias character offensive - reminding me a lot of Lennie from “Of Mice & Men”. Keeping in mind, this show is set in 1934 during the Great Depression - most people like himself would’ve likely been discarded and institutionalized, but his parents kept him and still hoped he would be able to develop, even when it’s clear he won’t and then it’s alluded that he was involved in an accidental death; he and his parents are fleeing to protect him.

As for “Duquesne Whistle”, I personally interpreted it as a sequence where Elias is now free of the limitations and suffering he experienced while alive and is on his way to heaven in grand fashion. Though I no longer practice - being raised a Christian, I always heard that death releases those from earthly suffering on their way to a peaceful and pain free afterlife."

Yeah, that’s 100% how I saw “Duquesne Whistle” and quite literally what the song is there to do.

I clearly understand the function of the song, but how it came across was a neurotypical actor who had been playing a caricature of someone with a disability becomes “normal” and leads the cast in a rousing gospel number. Any depiction of a person becoming “normal” in this sense is terribly offensive. We should be normalizing people/actors with disabilities, not depicting them stereotypically and show them only as “whole” when they get rid of their mannerisms. I have multiple family members who are not communicative, but I would never dream of them breaking out into song in this manner. I think it’s in very poor taste.

Just chiming in to say that I really appreciate the critical discussion about the show happening on this thread. I saw it twice (once at the Public, once on Broadway) and despised it both times. For me, it committed the cardinal sin of theatre: I was bored out of my mind from beginning to end. However, it's fascinating to read what others were able to dissect from this work that I clearly didn't. (This thread is a good example of why I continue to come back to these boards!)

quizking101 said: "I saw this show three times. See, I didn’t find the Elias character offensive - reminding me a lot of Lennie from “Of Mice & Men”."

I 100% thought of "Of Mice & Men" as well. But while the characters can have a Depression-era view of neurodivergence, it seems like the show's POV and the performance were similarly dated. I'd argue the show actually sidesteps us truly empathizing with Elias. We see him from an outside (infantilized, almost monstrous) perspective for most of the show and then we feel sympathy for him and his parents after the "accident." Accepting the theatrical device, Duquesne Whistle/Senor pretty much puts nonsense words in his mouth. We never know how he feels about the world or his life or his relationships or the incident they're running away from. It feels like emotional catharsis but it isn't. It's just a good musical number.

It's not Sia's Music but arguing that this show is as sensitive and sophisticated as it could/should be feels like a stretch.

I haven't begun to unpack my feelings on how the show handles race yet.

HeyMrMusic said: "Speaking of, what’s the point of the son’s drunken, racist tirade when the character has a Black sister?

But I agree, Vintage. It felt dated the way the show handled these issues."

I’m going to assume…he’s drunk and doesn’t really know what’s he’s saying/doing? If you were smashed, are you really gonna think you are cognizant of what comes out of your mouth? My thought could also be he thought he was some type of intruder.

It was an odd moment, and the person I went with also had the same question.

I personally think all the roles aren’t given much to do, but Gene was one of the biggest question marks for me. Mrs. Nielsen has a large presence in the opening scenes, so coming in late might have affected her impact for you.

I’m all for slice-of-life shows without much plot, but this one left me asking why, especially why the use of music and Bob Dylan’s catalogue.