The repeatedly enterprising Bridewell Theatre is offering, as part of the City of London Festival, the European premiere of The Ballad of Little Jo, which was first presented by Chicago's Steppenwolf troupe in 2000. The musical is based on Maggie Greenwald's 1993 film of the same name -- and both treat actual historical characters from the 19th century with some artistic license.
In 1868, the free-spirited young Josephine Monaghan gives birth in Boston to an illegitimate son fathered by a philandering photographer. Ejected from her home (while her elder sister cares for the infant), Josephine sets out for California. On the train her money and ticket are stolen, so she is thrown off in Idaho, where she is raped by two men. She cuts her hair and, donning male attire, takes refuge in Silver City, where as Little Jo she is befriended by a miner, Jordan, and a storekeeper, Sara -- the three forming an odd triangle. After Jordan and Sara marry, Jordan and Jo run the town's General Store. The silver mine comes on hard times in 1883, whereupon the xenophobic miners blame their ill luck on Tien Mein Wong, the town's one Chinese resident, the only person who realizes that Jo is really a woman. The miners resort to violence, and the work ends in multiple tragedy.
With deeply drawn characters, this is a powerful epic tale; and it is filled with splendid, sometimes Coplandesque music (one number is even in 7/4 meter). Anna Francolini is fully up to all the demands of Little Jo, while Kieran Brown as Jordan and Karen Evans as Sara handle their extensive singing admirably. As Tien Mein, Phong Troung sings a lovely solo, "Listen to the Rain." Director Carol Metcalfe, the Bridewell's artistic director, uses the small stage imaginatively.
The Ballad of Little Jo is one of the most accomplished and impressive musicals to come along in quite a while.
