Royal Court Theatre, London – until 10th February 2024
Reviewed by Celia Armand Smith
4****
Cowbois is a colourful, campy celebration of what it is to be yourself set in the traditionally (and hilariously) manly world of the wild west. Debuting last year at the RSC, Charlie Josephine’s latest play isn’t subtle, but it is fun. Taking place in a small town, all the men have gone missing while prospecting for gold, leaving the women (and the drunk sheriff) bored, sexually frustrated, and just about hanging on. Enter a handsome gun slinging outlaw by the name of Jack Cannon (Vinnie Heaven), who has every person in the town swooning. Soon enough, all the townsfolk start to discover life as their true selves and love blooms, with colour returning to the formerly repressed community. That is until the menfolk return. They are however quite swiftly forced to challenge their own heteronormative ideas and misogynistic ways in order to save the town from some pretty bad black clad folx that Cannon has allegedly wronged.
There is so much going for this production directed by Josephine and Sean Holmes. The design by Grace Smart is fantastic, and the movement and visual arrangement of the cast is one of the highlights. The performers travel across the stage with precision, creating tableaus that change and shift with a clever use of lighting and music from Simeon Miller and Jim Fortune. The play is punctuated by great singing from cast members accompanied by an old-timey band, ever present in the corner of the stage.
There are some particularly good comedic performances from Emma Pallant as the god fearing Sally Ann, Lucy McCormick as the increasingly outspoken and wild Jayne, and LJ Parkinson who clearly is no stranger to commanding a crowd. Paul Hunter, Lee Braithwaite, Bridgette Amofah, and Sophie Melville are all brilliant as well in this truly ensemble piece.
I am a big fan of Dolly Parton, Orville Peck, and all things camp and country, and so I had high expectations coming into this, and this colourful, queer joy filled romp with a big heart did not disappoint.