The Grand Theatre Wolverhampton until 22nd March
***** “a clear winner” five stars.
War Horse has become a thoroughbred production, thrilling audiences worldwide since its first acclaimed outing at The National Theatre in 2007. The production returned to the venue in 2008 and then transferred to The Gillian Lynne Theatre in 2009. Now the thrilling puppetry from The Handspring Company are bringing the life size horses to life on an extensive nationwide tour. To witness the puppetry expertise, together with a 30 plus strong company and some deft visual images on the stage of the Wolverhampton Grand is a rare delight. Not to be missed.
The longish tale is based on Michael Morpurgo’s bestselling book of the same name and takes us from a rural Devonshire backdrop to the horrors of the trenches in the Somme Valley during World War One. The star turn is a horse. A young farmer’s boy Albert is allowed to take in and train Joey, a horse of considerable hands and strength, Albert becomes close to his new equine friend and is distraught when Joey is purchased by the army and taken by a young Captain to the front line in France. Albert although too young enlists for the army with the intention of reacquainting himself with his beloved friend.
The puppetry detail invested in all the animals is first class, the nod of the head, the look in the eye and the swish of the tail, all are winning moments. Credit is due to puppeteers, Tom Quinn, Lewis McBean, Michael Larcombe, Matthew Lawrence, Rafe Young, Felicity Donnelly, Eloise Beaumont-Wood, Diany Samba-Bandza and Jordan Paris. Together they deliver and are a brilliant team. The large company of actors follow in the slip stream of the mighty horses, Tom Sturgess is a warm, likeable, and hugely believable Albert, we follow with some considerable fear his trek across the trenches in search of Joey. Through his eyes and experience we are reminded again of the dark terrors of war. A timely reminder.
The animation, sound, images and lighting all mix together superbly and accompanies the storyline brilliantly without being overbearing, the arc from the rural idyllic setting to the horrific battle scenes are sharply crafted and clever.
A touch of meandering crept into the middle of the second act, but in general the pace is a steady trot, that leads on at last out of the dark depths of The Somme and back to the green foothills of the Devon countryside.
Millions have enjoyed the engaging story of Joey, the play is a modern classic and rightly so, a thoroughbred of a production and is and for some time will be a clear winner. Catch the spectacle at The Grand while you can.
David Robinson
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