BWW Reviews: OH, WHAT A LOVELY WAR!, Manchester Opera House, February 24 2015
Timed for the centenary of the First World War, Terry Johnson's revival of Oh, What A Lovely War! still packs a serious satirical punch. It felt just as relevant and almost as hard hitting today as it would have done in 1963 - when it was first produced by Joan Littlewood at the Theatre Royal Stratford East.
The clowns of the Pierrot show interact with the audience as they find their seats - doing a good job to set up the conceit of an End of The Pier show. This is a show where the fourth wall is regularly broken, and the traditions of pantomime and music hall are used to good effect to highlight the absurdity of war.
Very much an ensemble piece, they handle the gear changes well - moving from periods of high comedy to dark tragedy with absolute ease. Music hall songs are cleverly interwoven with sketches whilst an electronic display board displays the running score - the losses of life versus the feeble territorial gains.
Lez Brotherston's design, all wrought iron and tattered flags, is used to great effect - evoking Brighton pier one moment and the trenches of Belgium the next, without much of a leap of imagination needed from the audience.
The show's most powerful moments are on the front line where we see the young soldiers facing up to the horrors of war. From the trepidations of the British troops a they are offered a temporary truce on Christmas Day through to the futility of the Irish battalion, shot at by both sides and sent to die in no man's land.
But just as strong is the criticism of the elite - from Field Marshall Sir Douglas Hague's belligerent and dehumanised tactics, to the rich from all sides profiteering from warmongering and scared stiff of an outbreak of peace.
The show very much wears its heart on its sleeve, and makes no attempt at subtlety. You will be left in no doubt what the creators thought of the war and tactics of the leaders - but even so it doesn't feel like a hectoring polemic. The cast have enough self-awareness to let the story tell itself, and the use of sometimes very dark comedy really lifts the production. It's confident enough to bring the show right up to date, with a reference to Nigel Farage getting one of the biggest laughs of the night.
Oh, What A Lovely War! successfully delivers an important message, whilst never forgetting the importance of entertainment.
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