Midnight Cowboy | Southwark Playhouse Elephant

Based on James Leo Herlihy's novel of the same name, Midnight Cowboy takes to the stage with this bold and brash musical adaptation. With a book by Bryony Lavery and music and lyrics by Francis 'Eg' White, the musical feeds off of the heart wrenching story of Joe Buck, a young dreamer in New York who undertakes sex work to help survive. The musical is gritty and dark from the start, choosing to emphasis on the internal and external demons that plague Joe Buck, and maintains this twisted and depressing stance throughout. 

Joe Buck (Paul Jacob French), stepping into the persona of a dashing cowboy to help entice more customers, finds himself strung along in a series of unfortunate events and scams, until his friendship with Rico 'Ratso' Rizzo (Max Bowden) helps him find some clarity. The friendship, although emerging towards the middle of the play, becomes the emotional crux of the play. The 1969 film adaptation is critically acclaimed and widely regarded as one of the most important American movies, however, this stage adaptation fails to live up to the high standard. 

Directed by Nick Winston, the musical struggles between being a slow burn of Joe's life or a fast paced and action filled musical, with the pacing often suspending the emotional impact. A lot of Joe's struggles are swept away, revealed only in brief and scattered flashbacks or stuffed into singular songs, which undercuts the audience's ability to connect, sympathise or root for the character. However, Winston works magic on the smaller moments of introspection, with a deep sensitivity to Joe's anguish and soul searing pain in the show's quieter moments. 

French does a marvellous job as Joe Buck, especially for the more haunting moments where he's forced to disassociate from his physical actions to keep his heart from breaking. Although not quite as convincing as a charismatic cowboy, French still has a charm about him that makes him irresistible to watch. Bowden as Rico 'Ratso' Rizzo, is another strong performer, giving a committed performance that really helps drive the musical forward. A lot of the musical hangs on the friendship between Joe and Ratso, and French and Bowden make that chemistry clear and alive on stage. 

Tori Allen-Martin delivers a stand out performance as Cass. Despite her brief stage time in both acts, Allen-Martin leaves a lasting impression and delivers the show's more energetic and electric moments, with a hilariously bold and sexual performance along with her killer vocals. 

Despite being a musical, the show's songs often feel more like a film score, with the songs accompanying moments of melancholy or pain, rather than stand alone moments. Whilst certain songs are rousing or soul-stirringly emotional, the majority of the songs fade into the background, leaving audiences a little confused to its purpose. Allen-Martin's vocals come as an utter delight, especially during a rather raunchy early number and a charming number towards the end. French delivers an excellent performance during his solo songs, which become the show's strongest moments. 

Winston's choreography does help elevate the musical numbers, pumping energy into these moments that can otherwise feel a little slow. Andrew Exeter's work as both set and lighting designer proves itself invaluable to the musical, creating a gorgeous visual piece that helps centre the story. A visibly dingy reflective black wall doubles as a digital screen, with sliding panels for characters from Joe's past to haunt him, as well as becoming a mirror that Joe is almost too afraid to look at. Smaller set pieces, such as a dirty sink or Ratso's table or Cass' bed, are wheeled on when necessary but help transform the space efficiently. A gentle sprinkle of snow falling in the second act makes for a gorgeous moment of despair and a poetic reminder that darker times are coming. 

Midnight Cowboy, although technically strong with solid elements in place, still feels empty for the most part. The musical still achieves its goal of being a hard watch as the seedy underside of New York and sex work is stripped away and laid bare on stage, but it doesn't quite pack the emotional punch that it tries to. 

Midnight Cowboy is currently playing at the Southwark Playhouse Elephant until 17th May 2025.

Tickets and More Information

★★★☆☆ (3*)

Gifted tickets in return for an honest review | Photography by Pamela Raith