A hard to swallow cocktail of emotions
James Leo Herlihy’s 1965 novel Midnight Cowboy, later adapted for the big screen in the 1969 film of the same name, is ripe source material for the stage. An uncomfortable look at the gritty underbelly of sixties New York, it mixes sex, friendship, partying and heartache, resulting in a hard to swallow cocktail of emotions, writes Melina Block.
This new musical production uses humour and, as the genre demands, singing and dancing, to provide moments of pathos and levity in what is, ultimately, a pretty bleak tale. Gripping performances from the leads, Paul Jacob French (Joe Buck) and Max Bowden (Ratso), provide an essential platform from which the story can unfold. Bolstered by an equally impressive ensemble cast and dancers, the show is both exciting and thoughtful. I do, however, feel like the second half slightly outshone the first, as the stakes ramped up to a devastating conclusion.
Joe and Ratso are the heart and soul of Midnight Cowboy. Their friendship, although starting out in a slightly rushed manner, is what carries the whole story. Jacob French and Bowden have great chemistry; almost good enough that you can easily overlook the somewhat confusingly established foundation of their connection and reliance upon one another.
Not all the musical numbers will be for everyone and I would again argue that the second half integrated the songs more fluidly, delivering a greater dramatic and emotional impact. But even the most staunch hater of musicals will surely be moved at least once or twice. Dance-wise, the top-level choreography and technical abilities of the dancers makes for brilliant theatre, giving the entire piece such a professional, slick sheen that you get the feeling that it would not be out of place in a West End theatre.
Raunchy and unflinching, Midnight Cowboy may be a difficult story, but it is an important one. This musical excels in humanising marginalised characters in a way which feels eerily relevant, even six decades after the novel was originally published. Southwark Playhouse Elephant, 1 Dante Place, London, SE11 4RX until 17 May 2025.
Booking and full details: 020 7407 0234 / southwarkplayhouse.co.uk
