Last night was opening night for War Horse At the Bob Carr Center for Performing Arts. The show is a National Theatre of Great Britain production. So what did I think?
Wow! Really stunning staging makes the audience forget the props and feel like they are amidst World War I events taking place in England and France. Without too garish effects but with plenty of booms and blasts and weapon discharge, I found myself feeling for the character's in this horrible setting.
The story follows the making of a friendship between young Albert (Michael Watt Cox) and a young Quarter Horse he names Joey. The friendship is strong enough that when Joey is sold to the army, Albert goes after him, enlisting in the army at only 16 years old. The real story is about the tragedy of war, wonderfully illustrated.
How does this company get horses on the stage? They use the most realistic puppets I've ever encountered. At first I thought that it would seem hokey to use puppets. Wrong. Although the audience sees the puppeteers, they soon fade into the background because they skillfully portray the horses enough they seem lifelike. Bravo to Maori Babb, Catherine Gowl, Nick Lamedica (young Joey) , Jon Hoche, Brian Robert Burns, Jessica Krueger (Joey), Jon Riddleberger, Harman Bengel, Gregory Manley (Top thorn and the goose) etc. They turned me into a believer.
John Milosich as the Song Man has a wonderful singing voice that captures local flavor and provides a commentary that is subtle and useful.
The cast has many fine characters who portray themes of family, trust issues, loss and grief, horror, humanity within war, and many more.
If the rest of the performances are like last night, there are still seats available. This is definitely worth going to
Wow! Really stunning staging makes the audience forget the props and feel like they are amidst World War I events taking place in England and France. Without too garish effects but with plenty of booms and blasts and weapon discharge, I found myself feeling for the character's in this horrible setting.
The story follows the making of a friendship between young Albert (Michael Watt Cox) and a young Quarter Horse he names Joey. The friendship is strong enough that when Joey is sold to the army, Albert goes after him, enlisting in the army at only 16 years old. The real story is about the tragedy of war, wonderfully illustrated.
How does this company get horses on the stage? They use the most realistic puppets I've ever encountered. At first I thought that it would seem hokey to use puppets. Wrong. Although the audience sees the puppeteers, they soon fade into the background because they skillfully portray the horses enough they seem lifelike. Bravo to Maori Babb, Catherine Gowl, Nick Lamedica (young Joey) , Jon Hoche, Brian Robert Burns, Jessica Krueger (Joey), Jon Riddleberger, Harman Bengel, Gregory Manley (Top thorn and the goose) etc. They turned me into a believer.
John Milosich as the Song Man has a wonderful singing voice that captures local flavor and provides a commentary that is subtle and useful.
The cast has many fine characters who portray themes of family, trust issues, loss and grief, horror, humanity within war, and many more.
If the rest of the performances are like last night, there are still seats available. This is definitely worth going to
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