Photos provided by Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade

Troubadour Bob Dylan is no stranger to Broadway after serving up the soundtrack for Twyla Tharp’s dance musical “The Times They Are A-Changin’,” though it definitely didn’t live up to expectations during an extremely brief run.

Luckily, the second time around is shaping up to be better in the case of “Girl From The North Country,” at least for those willing to make an psychological investment in the extremely dark drama, thanks to a deeper dive into an iconic catalogue with a more compelling book by Conor McPherson that’s currently camped out at the CIBC Theatre until Sunday, February 25.

For starters, it features a treasure trove of folk rock gems, including staples such as “Like A Rolling Stone,” “Make You Feel My Love,” “Hurricane,” “All Along The Watchtower,” “Forever Young,” and obviously “Girl From The North Country,” but much like an actual Dylan concert, it also goes well beyond the obvious to incorporate many album obscurities from the 1960s through 2010s, all re-arranged in the style of the 1930s.

That’s because the musical is set in Duluth, Minnesota during the Great Depression, circa 1934 to be exact, narrated by Dr. Walker (Alan Ariano), who cares for the family of Nick Laine (John Schiappa), owner of a rundown guesthouse in the risk of foreclosure and caretaker for a mentally ill wife, Elizabeth (Jennifer Blood), while starting a fling with their newly widowed, about-to-be rich resident Mrs. Neilsen (Carla Woods).

As if the tricky triangle wasn’t enough to manage, the married pair has two young adult children, including their struggling writer son Gene (Ben Biggers), who Nick would like to get a real job and marry into a wealthy family, plus an adopted Black daughter Marianne (Sharaé Moultrie), who is pregnant but reluctant to reveal the identity of the father and being uncomfortably pursued by an older white man, Mr. Perry (Jay Russell).

Many other neighbors and temporary shelter seekers enter the fold, such as a quarreling couple with a presumably autistic son, alongside the super late night arrival of supposed Bible salesman Marlowe (Jeremy Webb) and downtrodden boxer Joe Scott (Matt Manuel), both of whom especially shake up the scene.

It’s a ton to track and there aren’t any explanatory notes in the program, which makes careful listening key, though it might be helpful for theatergoers to consider they are much like those traveling through the inn and piecing everyone’s complex web together as they go.

The unforeseen twists and turns would all be fascinating enough to follow on their own dramatic merit, but add in the poetic prowess of the unparalleled Dylan to further convey the multitude of striking emotions, and “Girl From The North Country” possesses all the necessary elements to empathize as the transcendent cast of complicated characters tries to keep “Pressing On.”

“Girl From The North Country” continues at the CIBC Theatre through Sunday, February 25. For additional details, visit NorthCountryTour.com and BroadwayInChicago.com.

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