From Devon to Devastation and Back Again
The National Theatre’s War Horse has been galloping around the globe for almost two decades so anything said now has already been said about this magical show, but I’m going to say it all again because it deserves it, writes Michael Holland.
We are transported back to a market town in the West Country where estranged farming brothers are trying to outbid each other for a horse at auction; Ted Narracott (Karl Haynes), the drunken gambler of the two, pays far too much for the animal that is not even bred for farm work, and uses the mortgage money to close the deal! Wife Rose (Jo Castleton) is not happy but son Albert (Tom Sturgess)sees himself riding the thoroughbred across the downs, so quickly makes the beast – Joey – his own.
Brother Arthur (Gareth Radcliffe)mocks Ted for his foolish purchase and lures him into a bet that the horse is not able to plough a field. The task of getting a racehorse to wear a collar and pull a plough is left to Albert and he has a week to do it or they lose Joey.
Of course, with much anxiety and hard work the pair manage to do the impossible and that would be the perfect end to a lovely story. But this only takes us to news of Britain declaring war on Germany, which ends the first half.
Joey is commandeered by the army for war duty and Albert, too young to enlist, is left bereft. But not for long as he runs away to lie about his age and get to the front in order to search for Joey. All he has to take with is a drawing of Joey done by one of the officers. Albert shows everyone he meets and asks if they’ve seen his beloved horse.
This adaptation of Michael Morpugo’s book by Nick Stafford keeps people as secondary characters while never holding back on showing the horrors of war and how horses were just as much fodder for the German cannons as were the soldiers.
And the magnificent mechanical marvels that are the horses are without doubt the stars of the show. Each one has three puppeteers bringing them to life and skilfully create emotions through movement. It does not take long before they become invisible as you become mesmerised by the steeds. Those puppet-masters too are the stars and need to be name-checked: Joey: Rianna Ash – Chris Milford – Samuel Parker: Topthorn: Tom Quinn – Michael Jean-Marain – Michael Larcombe; Joey as a foal: Eloise Beaumont-Wood – Clara Lioe – Jordan Paris.
Excellent direction from Tom Morris and Katie Henry (revival director), who had a truly wonderful cast putting everything they had out there for them. I was particularly taken with Sally Swanson’s performance as The Singer, her soulful folk was delivered in a creamy smooth timbre that carried the story onwards.
War Horse is the perfect play because it appeals to all ages and has earned every one of its awards and accolades.
New Wimbledon Theatre until 16th August.
Booking and full details: https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/war-horse/new-wimbledon-theatre/
