Frightful First World War, adapted by Mark Williams, Belgrade, Coventry

Coventry
The Horrible Histories by Terry Dearey:
The Frightful First World War: adapted for stage by Mark Williams.
The Birmingham Stage Company
The Belgrade Theatre
phone
Runs 2h, one interval
Review: Jan Pick
17.2.09

Pack up your troubles........
A seething mass of parents, grandparents and excited children of assorted size and age are milling around the Belgrade foyer as the strains of patriotic Music Hall songs drift out of the open doors of the main auditorium. As the audience settle into their seats, bags of sweets rustling noisily, it seems that The Birmingham Stage Company are facing a tough challenge - how to make the First World War 'fun' whilst still conveying the understanding of its futlity and tragedy. It was a challenge they rose to magnificently, helped by the enduring appeal of Terry Deary's popular books - history with the horrible bits left in - and a group of talented actors adept at enthusing a crowd of holiday-happy youth.
Ciaran McConville and Laura Dalgleish double and triple roles as England, Germany, Belgium, doctor, mother and soldiers, at one point exhorting the audience to shout their support for some truly revolting recipes inflicted on the men in the trenches - the memory of chestnut curry will linger for a very long while!

Matthew Schmolle, as Paul, a young soldier, and Perry Lambert as Angelica, the girl sucked into the war by her malfunctioning computer, lead this versatile cast of five as they grumble, joke, sing, cook and fight their way over the Western Front on a beautifully lit and visually effective set . After the interval the audience join them with the help of 'boggle glasses' and 3D technology - there is great fun with splatted rats - but ultimately the true tragedy of this 'war to end all wars' is brought home and the total silence of the audience in the final moments of the play, as the poppies drift and settle is a tribute not only to cast and writer, but to the whole production team.

This is a great way to introduce a generation to a war now receding into the mists of history and to give a meaning to the deaths of those that fought and died so needlessly. So, get out of your 'charpoy', put on your 'daisies' and 'alley bumf' with your family to the Belgrade!

Cast:
Angelica: Perry Lambert
Paul: Matthew Schmolle
Germany and Doctor: Ciaran McConville
Mother and Belgium: Laura Dalgleish
Understudy: Julius Metson Scott
Director: Phil Clark
Design and Screen Illustrations: Jacqueline Trousdale
Lighting Designer: Jason Taylor
3D Special Effects: Amazing Interactives
Music: Matthew Scott
Sound Designer: Tom Lishman
Costume Supervisor: Gillian Malster
Production Manager: Damian Partington
Assistant Production Manager: James Roxburgh
Company Stage Manager: Andrew Owen
DSM and AV Operator: Nicola Turner
Sound Operator: Tim Draper
ASM: Julius Metson Scott

2009-02-19 19:40:40