The Chicago Cowboy review, Rosemary Branch Theatre

The Chicago Cowboy is effectively a timeline in 3D. The story of Sam and Doris Rosenberg, it follows the couple's good fortunes in America where they buy and run hotels. We watch their daughter, Alice, grow from child to student to mother. The most interesting character is their black hotel manager, Earl, who moves from a behind-the-scenes coloured boy to man of destiny when Sam gifts him an hotel. All of this happens, and is presented however, as an emotional  continuum.

Old hat

A versatile cast keeps you watching even as narrative twists and turns are openly sacrificed in favour of gratuitous theatrics. There are a number of scenes in which the cast demonstrate their skill at donning different costumes at rapid speed and presenting vignettes of Chicago life. It is all elegantly directed - there's a really clever club sequence - but adds nothing. One cannot help thinking it would be a far more interesting play if some of the scenes - and scene changes - were cut in favour of character, plot and dialogue development. There are no mountains climbed, no hurdles cleared. At one point there's an allusion to Nazi Germany and the Rosenbergs discuss offering financial help. But don't. So why introduce it?

Then there's the cracking title.  Sam loves riding. He likes to see himself as a cowboy but admits in the opening seconds that he's really 'a Jew with horses'. On about four occasions over the 90 minute performance, we see him out riding with his buddies. The staging is funny, and so is the line they sing about being Kosher Cowboys. None of this links to the main narrative. And yet, amongst all the missed opportunities are glimmers of something more. Lloyd Morris as Sam, and Marcus Adolphy as Earl, are charismatic and charming, and one longed for more of Ashley Henry at the piano.

In conclusion: The two actresses, Jodyanne Richardson and Elisa King are highly versatile, but hampered by playing middle class women with easy lives to whom nothing much happens. As evenings out go The Chicago Cowboy is an interesting diversion and there is compensation to be had with after-show food and wine in the lively bar downstairs.

References

Rosemary Branch Theatre, Tickets

The Rosemary Branch Theatre is at 2 Shepperton Road, London N1 3DT.   This production is now over.