REVIEW: Cowbois at Seymour Centre

Review by Michelle Sutton

Cowbois is written by Charlie Josephine and presented at the Seymour Centre by Siren Theatre Co. This production is directed by Kate Gaul. 

From the moment you step into the theatre at the Seymour Centre, the environment is cosy and welcoming. Musicians play country and folk music on the stage as the audience find their seats, warmly greeting everyone and setting the sense of time and place from the get go. 

Cowbois is a queer western play with music that is clever, funny and heartfelt. The show radiates a sense of defiant joy, community and celebration. Cowbois follows the tale of a town in the wild west where all of the men have been missing for about a year. Left to their own devices, the women in the town have had to learn how to adapt and survive on their own. 

Cowbois features an incredibly talented cast. The quality of performances across the board is extremely high. Emily Cascarino plays the protagonist Miss Lillian. Cascarino anchors the show well and takes the audience on a journey with her. Jane Phegan plays the holy and devout Sally Ann and Branden Christine plays the fiery widow Mary. Aimie Mckenna delivers a fun and dynamics performance as headstrong school teacher Jane. Faith Chaza plays Lucy/Lou with earnestness and grit. The dynamic between these five central characters is a true joy to watch from the audience, as all of the performers create a believable chemistry with one another as people relying on each other and sometimes annoying each other in a close-knit community. Matthew Abotomey delivers an impassioned and sincere performance as the town sheriff who goes on his own journey of self-discovery. Jules Billington plays the dashing and charismatic outlaw Jack Cannon who sets off a ripple effect throughout the whole town. 

Production design by Emelia Simcox is colourful and creative. Set design is kept to a minimum, with a bar, a table and some stools on stage as all of the action in the show centred at the epicentre of the town, the saloon. The costumes in Cowbois however are anything but simple, with bold, bright colours that gradually grow and become fluorescent to mirror the town embracing their authenticity. The lighting design by Brockman is playful and dramatic, drawing on tropes from western cinema to great comedic effect. The dance elements of the show are striking and emotionally poignant, often appearing at unexpected moments in the show. Danica Lani has taken great care and thought with her intentional and intimate choreography that aids in the storytelling of Cowbois. 

The music and lyrics of Cowbois is written by the multi-talented Clay Crighton, who also serves as musical director and plays an important character in the second act of the show. There are only a few songs in Cowbois, but they are perfectly placed to highlight moments of great change and importance. The music throughout the show is a delight and adds to the overall experience of the production. Branden Christine in particular gets to shine in several of the songs. 

Cowbois is a highly polished, well-written, well-executed show, but more than that it is a celebration of queerness, of people being their authentic selves and living lives of love. It is pulled together with Kate Gaul’s capable direction and an immensely talented ensemble of performers. Cowbois is full of substance, whilst being a riotously fun time-It is sure to be a crowd-pleaser. 

Image Credit: Alex Vaughan