The Grapes of Wrath, Birmingham Rep, Tuesday 20th October 2009
Based on the novel by John Steinbeck, Adapted by Frank Galati
 

This English Touring Theatre production presents this summer’s Chichester Festival Theatre’s version of John Steinbeck’s classic and thought provoking story of the dust bowl migrants and their life changing and perilous struggles.

Jonathan Church a man well known to Birmingham theatre goers for his highly successful stint as Artistic Director at the Rep directs. The large cast is kept very much on track by Church, making good use of the large stage and Simon Higlett’s tilted design works effectively almost knocking the world off axis. Both the lighting and costumes add considerably to the overall atmosphere of the depression. The special effects for the storm and flooding scene at the end of act 2 are quite spectacular and add to the harrowing situation.

This is very much a repertory approach with everyone involved giving 100% and it has to be said all looking pretty exhausted at the end of the performance. John Steinbeck’s book may have described the struggles of 1930s migratory families but there are still present day parallels that can be drawn and the large audience were often enthralled.

There are a number of strong and outstanding performances starting off with young Tom Joad  the now paroled killer who clearly has an explosive character. Damian O’Hare plays the role with a building tension that you know is going to blow right about now.

The former Reverend Jim Casy, now just a sinner has a pivotal role in the production and is played with a strong visual impact by Oliver Cotton.  The ever optimistic and family saving Ma Joad is played very convincingly by Sorcha Cusack. The initially enthusiastic but finally defeated father figure of Pa Joad is played with undaunted conviction by Christopher Timothy. Of the old timers, Jennifer Hill as Granma Joad and Richard Kane as Grampa Joad add considerably to the sense of desperation felt by the Joad family as they set off on their gruelling journey to California and the unknown.

This is an evening of emotions and tensions, thought provoking situations and effectively presented drama. The music and songs by John Tams added an evocative Woody Guthrie feel that certainly contributed to the evening.  Well worth seeing.

The production lasts for 3 hours including one interval and is at the Rep until Saturday 31 October 2009.

Clive Fuller
To book tickets or see news of forthcoming plays at the Birmingham Rep, visit http://www.birmingham-rep.co.uk