Southwark Playhouse Elephant, London – Composer Finn Anderson and director Tania Azevedo have crafted a powerful generational journey through the history of Appalachian song. The music of central Appalachia, rooted in the Scots-Irish settlers, is explored through a contemporary story of reconnection.
The plot follows New York couple Sarah and Alix as they discover a mystery box containing audio tapes that trace song origins back through Sarah's family line. This unwelcome link to her West Virginia roots becomes increasingly transformative, driven by Anderson's evocative score and electrifying vocal performances.
Kirsty Findlay delivers a heartbreaking performance as Cait, a 17th-century Scottish minister's wife, while Yna Tresvalles shines as 18th-century Londonderry teenager Jean. Their stories of pregnancy and choice fuel themes of motherhood, with the act-one number 'Unexpected Visitor' standing out. The nearly all-female cast, including Sian Louise Dowdalls and Ally Kennard, provides brilliant support.
Though the contemporary story is sometimes overshadowed by the historical characters, the vocal performances are faultless. A stirring second-half flatfooting number adds to the folk energy. The production is a worthy tribute to the music it loves, with hopes it can reach a wider audience.
