Review: COWBOIS, Swan Theatre - RSC
Photo credit: Henri T
Joyous queer cowboy romp Cowbois at the Royal Shakespeare Company is an absolute treat. Writer and co-director Charlie Josephine (they/he), along with co-director Sean Holmes (he/him), has created a magical world and is clearly going from strength to strength after their recent Globe production of I, Joan.
Cowbois is set in a small town in the Wild West, half cowboy-Americana and half stifled British Victorian values, where all the men apart from an alcoholic sheriff and a young boy have been missing for a year leaving the women to fend for themselves. Their lives are turned on their heads when wanted bandit Jack Cannon turns up at their saloon.
The play features a stunning ensemble of actors. From the second they step on stage, Vinnie Heaven (they/them) as Jack Cannon is utterly compelling and they know how to work the audience, garnering cheers from the get go. Sophie Melville (she/her) holds her own confidently as Miss Lillian and the chemistry she shares with Jack is electric. A true crowd pleaser is LJ Parkinson (they/them) as Charley Parkhurst, a performance so charismatic you don’t want to take your eyes off of them for even a second, making a massive impact despite their criminally short stage time.
It's a real love letter to masculinity in many different forms; vulnerable masculinity, youthful masculinity, feminine masculinity and most importantly trans masculinity – both experienced and burgeoning, with Lee Braithwaite (they/he) giving a moving performance of someone exploring their identity for the first time as Lou. We are shown that to be transgender or to love someone who is transgender is a magical experience. Through the characters literally and metaphorically letting their hair down and the marvellous costuming, we can see how trans joy ultimately frees everyone regardless of where someone might fall on the gender spectrum, and when that joy is stifled, the straightjacket of forced gender roles feels suffocating.
A visual delight, there are action-packed gun fights that will make you jump out of your seat as well as beautiful songs threaded through the show, the most memorable featuring the powerhouse vocals of Bridgette Amofah (she/her) as Mary.
With an empowering message to choose yourself and fight for love, Cowbois is well worth the trip to Stratford-upon-Avon and is deserving of a further life long after this run ends.
***** Five stars
Reviewed by: Rose Puttick
Cowbois plays in the Swan Theatre at the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford-upon-Avon until 18 November, with further information here.