Review of The Grapes of Wrath

"A powerful compelling epic drama" by Jill Lawrie for remotegoat on 18/07/09

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 ravaged 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.

Event Venues & Times
finished	Theatre Royal | Royal Parade, Plymouth, PL1 2TR
finished	Edinburgh Festival Theatre | 13-29 Nicolson Street Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH8 9FT
finished	New Wimbledon Theatre | The Broadway, Wimbledon, London, SW19 1QG
finished	West Yorkshire Playhouse | Playhouse Square, Quarry Hill, Leeds, LS2 7UP
finished	Hall for Cornwall | Back Quay, Truro, TR1 2LL

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