This past Tuesday marked War Horse's opening night in Jacksonville, Fl. I didn't know what to expect, never having read Michael Morpurgo's best-selling 1982 novel, or seen the 2011 six-time Academy Award nominated film, by director Steven Spielberg. I had, however, heard whisperings that War Horse is an incredible story, and I must go see this 2011 winner of five-Tony Awards, including "Best Play." And how glad I am that I did!
Growing up on the west coast, in a town where the outskirts sprawled into the beautiful countryside, we knew several families who owned horses. My love of horses began at an early age, at just six years old, when I was taught to ride "Blackie" by a dear family friend amongst the grassy rolling hills.
I continued to be captivated by these creatures in my youth, as I went on to horse camp during the perfectly long Washington indian summers, later attending college in Montana, where there were horse ranches as far as the eye could see. There is something emotional and raw about a relationship between man (or in my case, woman) and horse. You are taken in by their beauty, charming character, and majesty, but also terrified of their sheer power, force, and unpredictability. Riding a horse feels amazing and terrifying all in the same breath. There is an unspoken respect between horse and rider.
Once the show began, I was immediately enthralled by the hugely talented puppeteers, bringing Joey and the rest of the animals to life on-stage, making the audience truly feel the heartache and turmoil of this epic portrayal through the animals eyes.
Throughout the production, the narrator appears, with his beautifully erie English songs, mystic and hollow, tying in the artistry of the music, acting, lighting and sounds, harmoneously aiding in this historically accurate recount of World War I, starring our hero "Joey," the spirited thoroughbred horse.
One of my favorite aspects of this production, besides the unbelievable puppetry, are the props that were chosen to further intensify the emotions of the audience. From the old-time cameras, complete with blinding flash and smoke, to the officers pistols firing, the carefully thought out prop selection engages the audience even more through heart-stopping surprises, making the crowd hang on every scene, waiting for the moment Joey and Albert are reunited.
Another interesting feature of this particular play is the raw artist renderings on a horizontal screen used for the scenery. I applaud this use of artistry to further dramatize the story, as opposed to using digital HD images, with the ever improving, popular clear pixel displays.
To sum up - War Horse is a theatrical masterpiece! Shows run through Sunday, February 23. You will not want to miss this!
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My Video Review of War Horse:
