WOODY SEZ - review
This Review Kills Fascists
⭐⭐⭐⭐ and a half
Woody Guthrie is rightly regarded as one of the most influential figures in American folk music. His socialist, anti-fascist protest songs inspired generations of artists including Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Johnny Cash and Bruce Springsteen. This engaging and heartfelt show celebrates both the music and the remarkable life of a man whose influence is still felt today.
The mood is set from the moment we enter the Boulevard Theatre. The four performers are already on stage, warming up with traditional Americana tunes. By the time they seamlessly launch into the show itself, the theatre feels less like a performance space and more like a communal gathering.
Using Guthrie's own words alongside around 25 of his songs, we are taken on a journey through his often tragic but extraordinary life. We learn about his childhood in Oklahoma, where the devastating Dust Bowl storms destroyed livelihoods and forced hundreds of thousands, including Guthrie's family, into poverty. Travelling alongside displaced workers to California he earned the nickname "The Dust Bowl Troubadour", giving a voice to those struggling through some of America's darkest times.
The production does an excellent job of placing Guthrie's music within the context of his life. His rise and fall as well as the many family tragedies including the impact of his mother's death from Huntington's disease, the hereditary condition that would eventually claim Guthrie's own life.
We learn about his collaborations with like-minded musicians such as Pete Seeger and Lead Belly, and his lifelong commitment to championing the oppressed while challenging inequality and the darker side of capitalism.
What makes the show particularly special is its energy, authenticity and heart. Four multi-talented musician-actors perform entirely without modern amplification, allowing the audience to experience the songs much as Guthrie himself would have performed them. Each performer takes lead vocals on different numbers, matching songs to their individual strengths, while rich harmonies really show of the emotion in Guthrie's deceptively simple songwriting. They are clearly having a ball.
The musicianship throughout is outstanding. The cast play more than a dozen traditional instruments, including Appalachian rarities such as the dulcimer, autoharp and even the jaw harp.
Guthrie wrote over 3,000 songs written during his lifetime, so selecting just a handful is no easy task, yet they strike an impressive balance. Classics such as This Land Is Your Land sit alongside the lesser-known really demonstrate the breadth of Guthrie's catalogue and well as the continuing relevance of his message.
As someone who has long admired Woody Guthrie, I was surprised by how much I still learnt. The production succeeds not only as a concert but also as a compelling biography of the social causes that drove his music.
After the show we were treated to a Woody Sez hootenanny which was open to all in the bar where we could all sing and join in with great Americana classics.
A stirring tribute to a legendary folk singer who spoke trust to power. We could certainly do with a few more voices like “Woody Guthrie’s today. This review kills fascists.
Underbelly Boulevard Soho
6 Walkers Court, Soho, W1F 0BT
8-19 September
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