In an imaginative piece of programming, the Festival Theatre follows its production of Oklahoma! with The Grapes of Wrath. Thirty years after the action of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, we get to see what life Curly and Laurey would have forged for themselves; it's not a pretty sight as the optimism of Oklahoma's recognition is hit by the double-whammy of the Great Depression and drought.
John Steinbeck's novel - about a family of Oklahoma sharecroppers whose farm repossession triggers a desperate westward flight in search of the ‘promised land’ - is 70 years old, but it hasn't lost any of its power. And Jonathan Church's hard-hitting production preserves all of the original work's clout as well as offering an uncomfortable reminder of the parallels between the 1930s and the current economic situation.
Church superbly captures the power of Steinbeck’s story, helped enormously from the first scene by Simon Higlett's evocative design, with a row of wheat-sheaves standing like statues as a brief glimpse of what farming could have been like given different circumstances. The descent from these plentiful times to crippling poverty is handled adroitly, with the clever use of a barbershop quartet as a sort of Greek chorus guiding us some of the way. The Joads' road to California is complemented by billboard advertisements promoting the riches of Californian living, mocking the family’s current dire circumstances and aspirations.
It's not perfect: the smooth narrative of the novel is cut into neat mini episodes and some of the accents are completely off, sounding more like they emanate from the Australian dustbowl rather than the American Mid-West. But these are minor quibbles in a standout production.
There’s a particularly strong performance from Sorcha Cusack as Ma Joad, the matriarch whose overwhelming drive is to keep the family together. Also noteworthy are Christopher Timothy as her world-weary husband, whose bent back gait seems to emphasise the burdens that he's bearing, and Oliver Cotton as the moral heart of the piece, Casy, a preacher who has lost his faith. As the hot-headed son Tom, Damian O'Hare provides plenty of fire but his delivery isn't all it should be – although the pivotal “I'll be there” speech is imbued with real passion.
This is a powerful a piece of theatre; a work that grabs the audience's attention from the off and holds it spellbound. It serves as a salutary reminder to us all that a real economic depression is not about holidaying in Bournemouth instead of Barbados or buying cheaper wine; it can have a devastating toll on whole communities.
saw teh preformance at Wimbledon thatre- suberb - POB
05 Oct 09
The Grapes of Wrath
By John Steinbeck adapted by Frank Galati
Festival 09 Chichester ~ Festival Theatre Chichester West Sussex
* * * * *
A powerful compelling epic drama
Sell out performances for this masterly epic creation, based on Steinbeck’s novel of the Depression of the 1930’s, which has been cleverly adapted by Frank Galati, for the stage. Set in Oklahoma it centres around the Joad family ~ share croppers whose farm has been repossessed due to the devastating effect of the drought. They are forced to make a long and tiring journey west searching for work and the promised land of California. Along the way they suffer the harsh realities of death, defection, exploitation murder and starvation!
Jonathan Church (Artistic Director) and his creative team Simon Higlett (Designer) Tim Mitchell (lighting) and John Tams (music) have excelled with this innovative original creative and inspiring major production. An immensely flexible slatted wooden backdrop, adapting ingeniously throughout, and added to this a full scale vintage truck, knee deep water and torrential rain! No shortage of dramatic special effects! Opening to the haunting sounds of a single harmonica and a stage full of harvested corn, this large ensemble cast did justice to Steinbeck’s sincere and heartfelt masterpiece.
Damian O’Hare gave an exceptional performance as Tom Joad, returning from prison to find his family life ravished by the prolonged lack of rain. Forced to leave his family again but pledging to preach the word that the poor must band together for their rights. Oliver Cotton (Reverend Jim Casy) gave a masterly interpretation of the preacher disenchanted with his faith but instead using empirical methods to help others. Sorcha Cusack (Ma Joad) was outstanding as she held the desperate family together, despite such cruel heartache and loss. Christopher Timothy took the role of Pa Joad, his son Al Joad was played by Mark Field and Rebecca Night (Rose of Sharon) having lost her stillborn child, brought a poignant and sympathetic pieta like close to the show, as she suckled a starving man.
This marathon production, lasting nearly 3 hours, is playing in repertoire with Oklahoma until the end of August, and comes highly recommended.
(331 words)
Jill Lawrie of Remotegoat
- Jill Lawrie of Remotegoat
21 Jul 09
Gruelling but compelling. Excellent on so many levels. Highly recommended. - starpath
19 Jul 09
Saw a pre run performance. Excellent, set ,cast, transport, river and thunderstorm. Well done to all I heartily reccommend this show. - Graham Anthony
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