“This machine kills fascists” are the words famously scrawled across American folk legend Woody Guthrie’s guitar. In Woody Sez, a musical composed of the words and songs of Guthrie, David M. Lutken, Nyssa Grant, David Finch, and Raquel Chavez aim to demonstrate exactly how these words remain true of the musician, whose legacy continues to inspire anti-fascist movements around the world today.
Woody Sez charts the life and times of Guthrie, who travelled up and down the country writing songs that captured the working class and immigrant communities that surrounded him. This was work that went on to shape generations of folk musicians to follow, and if you are unfamiliar with Guthrie, Woody Sez is a perfect place to start, showing how music allowed him to protest against a world stacked against working people.
M. Lutken plays the musician as he takes us through the story of his life, from beginnings in small town Oklahoma, to California during the dust bowl era of the 1930s, and finally a burgeoning folk scene in New York City that would go on to inspire the likes of Bob Dylan and Joan Baez. The music in this show is wonderful—exchanging 20 instruments between them, the quartet come together for celebratory, stirring performances of Guthrie’s most beloved songs.
Despite the show’s small size, it is vividly realised and totally engrossing throughout, never failing to make the audience realise the prescience of Guthrie’s anti-fascist, anti-capitalist message for our own troubled times. M. Lutken brings a warmth and humour to Guthrie that emanates from the moment you enter the theatre, where the cast joyfully play folk songs as the auditorium fills, warming up for their performance. This atmosphere continues throughout, creating a truly joyful and celebratory experience, perfect for everyone from fans of Guthrie to those who had never heard his name before they stepped through the door.
Woody Sez is playing until August 30 at Cowbarn at Underbelly, Bristo Square.
Find tickets here
Image Credit provided Wendy Mutz as press material.
