War Horse
With the time scheduled for this excellent play to run ending in mid-February of 2016, the opportunities to witness the play and have your heart moved by its emotion are reducing day by day. The play runs at the well maintained and impressive New London Theatre, on Dury Lane in the Covent Garden sector of London. It is fundamentally based on the novel for children, written by Michael Murpogo in 1982, by the same name. The fact that the story was deemed movie worthy by acclaimed director Steven Spielberg, is sufficient to invoke the interest of many of the play’s viewers. In fact, he was inspired to make the movie after watching the movie and being moved to tears by it.
Produced by Tom Morris and Marianne Elliott, the play is set in years running upto and including the Great War. It is focussed around the relationship between the “War Horse”, a Bay Thoroughbred, and the teenaged Albert Narracott. The trials and tribulations the two endure as a result of the war and the incredible journey through the years they make and the one Joey makes, especially, usually keeps the audience spellbound.The degree of emotion this play stirs is so strong, it is recommended that viewers are aged a minimum age of twelve.
Joey was purchased at an auction by Albert’s father; a war veteran from the Boer War in spite of the fact that a run of the mill plough horse would have been more aptly suited to the turnip farm work at hand. The time spent between Albert and Joey results in the forging of a strong bond and practices are developed such as Joey’s being taught to come when an owl’s call is mimicked by Albert.The failure of the crop casts aspersions upon the monetary situation of the Narracott family and results in Joey being sold to support the military War Effort.
Puppets are used to depict the role and actions of Joey. Though puppets maybe used, the play depicts the very real relationship between boy and horse, one which is ideal but then proceeds to be ripped away and put under severe duress by the vagaries of war. The audience, during the performance is moved to wonder whether in the havoc wrecked by the ghastly war, whether something so small yet meaningful will survive.
As the First World War was the harbinger of the end of the cavalry segment of many military forces across the world, the struggle of war horses to face the rumbling, monstrous newly inducted inventions called tanks and incomprehension as to their situation and role to be played is well documented by the play.The undertone of this facet of the play is how traditional ties which have been in existence for centuries can be proved to be transient overnight, just like the deep meaning of the bond between Joey and Albert is rendered immaterial in the greater scheme of things; by forces far more powerful than a country boy’s will and determination.
It can be said that if animals could speak, Joey would have enough to say to provide ample material for another play. However, as reality dictates that they cannot, the audience contents itself with following the movement of the plot starring equine character and the many entities he serves; be they Albert, both belligerents, or even individuals like a pair of German ambulance driving brothers who make the imprudent decision to desert the duty of serving their nation, an orphaned and sickly French girl, until the play almost reaches a tragic end which would have invariably render the average watcher with the significant bitter aftertaste of disappointment.
However, the regimental pennant originally belonging to Albert’s father, Ted Narracott prevents this from being the end of the spectacle. Whether the culmination of the play is the work of fate or simply human fortitude, one can only speculate; the verdict reached being one’s own opinion.
The play is inexpensive and costs between fifteen and a little less than sixty pounds to watch. Doing so represents great value and an evening well spent. While the movie may feature the latest cinematography, as it was released in 2011, the play, which guests at the hotels in the vicinity of Shaftesbury Avenue usually take time out to watch, is a class apart. The theatre is situated just about half a mile away from Shaftesbury Avenue Hotels, London. For those from more distant parts of London, who fittingly deem the play worth watching can access a few hours of quality and meaningful entertainment by approaching the theatre via the Holborn or Charing Cross stations.The play can be watched on six days of the week, with the exception of Sunday.