Reviewed by Sally Carter
“War Horse”, based on a novel by Michael Morpurgo and adapted for stage by Nick Stafford. Presented in association with the award-winning Handspring Puppet Company.
This is the 10-year anniversary tour of War Horse. It first premiered at The Olivier Theatre at The National Theatre on October 17th 2007. It was then revived a year later before transferring to the West End. It has enjoyed productions on Broadway and internationally touring, the USA, Canada, Australia, South Africa, China, the UK, Ireland and some of Europe too. It has been translated into; German, Dutch and Chinese. It was after seeing the play himself at the New London Theatre, that Steven Spielberg commissioned a new film adaptation of Morpurgo’s novel which premiered in January 2012. The play has won many awards in the UK, US, South Africa & Canada, including Tony and Olivier awards, that were voted for by both critics and audiences alike.
Now although I am familiar with much of Michael Morpurgo’s work; I have to confess, I have not read this particular novel or seen the film adaptation. Yes, you could say the shows reputation precedes it, but I still don’t think I, or my companion, were completely prepared for what we were about to witness! In fact, I think this has been possibly one of the most difficult reviews I have ever written; there is just so much to say and yet seemingly so few words to use to convey all that it was. But I shall try… The story itself, is of a boy, “Albert”(played by Thomas Dennis) and his horse, “Joey”. The relationships, interactions and love developed, shared and enjoyed by those they encounter. It has everything a story should; love, friendship, camaraderie, tears, joy, pain, loss and a happy ending. A real roller coaster of a ride & I wish I’d taken my tissues!
There are four particular elements of the play which I felt were used to lift and enhance the story to its acclaimed heights. These are; The puppets (an obvious one), The Song Man, The Sketch Pad & The Lighting.
The staging is stark and the play opens in darkness. Running right across the top of the stage is a screen which resembles a torn piece of sketch pad paper.
As the play begins pencil lines, ‘sketches and notes’ start to appear and this continues throughout the play helping us with the timeline of the story and giving some pictorial context such as sketches of locations or action happening ‘off stage’. This ties us directly to the action on stage & the characters who interact with the sketch book. It is almost a character in itself.
We hear first from the “Song Man”, played in this tour by Bob Fox, who is himself somewhat of a War Horse legend, as the longest serving Song Man since his first appearance in the West End version in 2011. He has a lyrical voice and sings in the folk style, which is used to perfectly depict and narrate the story throughout.
The use of light in the play is powerful indeed. From still and quiet darkness, to the harsh, bright flashes of explosions and gunfire, to the warm glow of the sun’s rays. It draws you in and punctuates the action of the story to great effect.
The Puppets are used in significant and moving ways. There are 23 puppets in all including horses Joey and Topthorn, as well as a goose, two swallows and two crows. Twelve puppeteers, in groups of three, play the roles of Joey and Topthorn in rotation at different performances as it is such a physically demanding role. In some of the Somme battle scenes 7 puppeteers/actors are needed to move each horse and the choreography in those scenes in particular is so stunning, precise and moving it really makes the heart race and emotions run high!
This play is truly a feast for the senses: Wonderful storytelling bought to life on the stage by creatively stunning, yet simple staging, lighting, effects and emotive folk music. Made all the better by the brilliance of the puppet horses. You become so spellbound by the costumes and mechanisms of the puppets, yet at the same time drawn in by the realism of the characterisation, believing that they are actual horses.
I can appreciate why the play comes with a “not suitable for under 10’s” warning… there is some strong language and some of the fighting senses, gunshots and explosions, etc. had even the adults jumping out of their seats. In places the story is also of a more grown up context/subject matter too. However, there was a large party of older Junior school children at our performance who all thoroughly seemed to be enjoyed it – laughing, crying and screaming along. They clearly got as much from the performance as the adults did. There were also some pensioners in the audience who may not recall the 1st World War, but would certainly have been involved in the second, who equally enjoyed this moving and beautiful play.
As always, the staff at The Mayflower were friendly, accommodating and happy to help.
I would thoroughly recommend going and taking the whole family.
Rating: 5/5
Tickets cost from £15 to £59.50 (booking fees may apply).
War Horse is at the Mayflower Theatre in Southampton from 16 May to 9 June 2018, for more information or to book tickets visit www.mayflower.org.uk or call the box office on 02380 711811.
Mayflower Theatre, Commercial Road, Southampton, SO15 1GE | 02380 711811
