Slick show: the four consummate musicians are also professional actors Pic: Pete Heywood
By Susie Chattelle
A problem with superlatives is that they tend to be used so often that when something really special comes along words don’t do it justice. This show will go down as one of the highlights of Celtic Connections. The show runs until Thursday at The Tron Theatre and if you have a chance to go, you should take the opportunity while you can. Their next closest performance currently scheduled is in Berlin.
This year marks the Centenary of Woodrow Wilson Guthrie, Woody Guthrie the dustbowl troubadour who both chronicled and protested the Great Depression and later fought in the Second World War against the evils of fascism whilst still retaining the voice of protest against war.
If you don’t know his songs you may be familiar with This Land is Your Land, So Long It's Been Good to Know Ya, This Train is Bound for Glory, or Do Re Mi without having known that all of these songs are Woody’s.
The show started with a few tunes from the actor musicians from the edge of the stage set. “We haven’t really started yet; this is just to warm us up.” There was instant communication with the audience and we knew we were in for something special.
This wasn’t actors learning a few songs for a show; these were four consummate musicians who were also professional actors with a passion for the subject. The movement around stage was slick and the transition from song to song seamless. The programme said “around 30 songs”; I wasn’t counting but I doubt if there is any other musical performance at Celtic Connections which will pack so much music into a show.
The applause and the audience reaction suggested that most of them were familiar with Woody’s songs. The show put them into perspective and whilst far from being a lecture, they put the songs into the context of Woody’s life. Woody Sez is an apt title. This was Woody speaking; songs from the depression era and the role of the bankers didn’t need the performers to draw parallels to modern times, Woody’s songs carried their timeless messages strongly enough.
At the start they announced that the show would last for around 90 minutes, without a break, adding “but if you need to go out to the bar to get a drink, feel free.” Nobody left the auditorium and the time flew by. There was a simple but effective stage set with a variety of musical instruments strategically placed to allow the performers to change instruments with no interruption.
The whole show was performed without microphones, easily projecting to the audience from all points on stage. Most of the narrative came from David Lutken who took on the role of Woody, with some of the story being told through various visits to verses of the song The Ballad of Tom Joad sung by Darcie Deauville accompanying herself on fiddle.
There are various musical tributes currently being performed, some better then others in their efforts to honour important contributors to our music. This one hit the target in so many ways that it could be described as a “must see” for anybody wanting to tell a story in music. If there is a better band around to honour Woody, I would like to hear them, but to be honest these guys are doing the job just fine.
- Susie Chattelle writes for The Living Tradition magazine, which promotes traditional music in Scotland, the UK and Ireland. www.livingtradition.co.uk
- For reviews, interviews and news visit our Celtic Connections microsite
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