Review: OH! I MISS THE WAR at DJP Productions

This one-man show is adapted from a work of a similar name, I Miss the War, which was originally commissioned by the BBC to mark the 50th anniversary of the 1967 Sexual Offences Act. This production serves as both a response to and homage to that piece.

David John Phillips, who is also one of the playwrights, gives a strong performance, skillfully portraying two characters. It’s clear that this is an important story for him to tell, and I recognize the relevance and emotional weight behind it. That said, I found it somewhat difficult to connect with on a personal level.

There is an early moment where he describes being in a room with a group of twenty-somethings, being asked his pronouns, and sharing a humorous reflection on the experience. As a middle-aged English teacher, that moment resonated with me and provided a point of entry into the piece.

While I consider myself an ally of the LGBTQ+ community, I don’t share the lived experiences at the center of this story. I have not, to my knowledge, lost anyone to AIDS or its related complications. For audience members who do have that personal connection, I imagine this show will be especially powerful and meaningful. For me, I felt somewhat outside of its intended audience, which affected my overall engagement.

That said, this is clearly an important story, and it’s one that deserves to be told. David John Phillips should be commended for bringing it to the stage with care and commitment—it’s simply a matter of finding the audience who will most fully connect with it.

Oh I Miss the War is currently playing at Orlando Fringe through May 24 in the Starlight Room at Savoy.

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