This Girl
Fab Five Folk
This Girl
by Mike Howl, music by Frankie Connor, Alan Crowley and Billy Kinsley
Mike Howl Company at Upstairs at the Gatehouse Theatre, until 2nd August
Review by Heather Moulson
The zebra crossing in Abbey Road is well-known to Beatles aficionados. Not too far away in North London, it is well worth the uphill climb from the tube station to this charming venue in Highgate Village, which was once a Victorian music-hall, for an exciting production that tells the Beatles story from the viewpoint of the late Cynthia Lennon. This Girl also features eight brand-new songs.
We open to a group of plucky young Liverpudlians, circa 1957, among them a reticent Cynthia and a brash John Lennon; plus Stu Sutcliffe and Paul McCartney and several other pals. With clever references to iconic Beatle numbers, in particular to Penny Lane, and standing out as the best new song is His Cyn. In a moving performance, it is sung by Emily Guilfoyle, who plays Cynthia.
The same poignancy applies to Astrid and Stu’s duet, promising togetherness before he met a sudden death. John Lennon is played perkily by Marky Reader, who not only has a good voice and verve, but looks uncannily like the long dead Beatle. The text shows Lennon’s dark side without overkill.
Roxanne Male as the older wiser Cynthia, who came into her own in the second act, was monumental. Dominic Cummings, who plays the ill-fated fifth Beatle, Stu, has a strong presence. Jake Roberts takes a while to relax into the role of Paul McCartney.
Astrid and Phyllis McKenzie are convincingly played by Abbie Reader, and Ellie Spencer makes a vibrant Dot Rhone. A good accompaniment on the acoustic guitar comes from the writer himself, Mike Howl, a presence in the background.
Geraldine Moloney Judge as Aunt Mimi is a treat with charismatic stage presence. Kevin Thomas makes a good Brian Epstein, although there seems to be shades of Melvin Bragg in his appearance.
The second act takes a more complex turn as the Beatles change dynamic. Cynthia rightly predicts her marriage to be on a losing streak. Although there is only a bare reference to Yoko Ono, her presence was strong enough, and the sordid terms of divorce are poignant. A voice-over to cover John Lennon’s violent death was effective.
Despite a lively appearance from Addae Gaskin as Noel Charles, who became Cynthia’s second husband, singing a feel-good song, one feels this side of Cynthia’s life is rather tacked on. Julian Lennon is played by Lee Clotworthy as a sincere character.
The stage is bare apart from a backdrop slideshow, but costumes are realistic and authentic to their time, and all is well-lit by Ian McMillan. Sharp direction from Mike Howl and musical director Mark (Strider) Reader does a good job but sometimes the singer’s projections are lacking. Beverley Norris Edmunds enhances a worthwhile show with vibrant choreography.
Heather Moulson, August 2023
Photography by Michelle
Mark Aspen 