I can highly recommend the play War Horse at the New London Theatre. It is the story of a Devon farm lad, a horse and the First World War. The actors and action are wonderful and the Horses are magnificent. The horses are full size puppets manipulated by three men, eventually you dont see the men just the horses. How do you carryout a cavalry charge on a stage? They do it! They even have a tank on stage. Go and see it.

Trevor, I couldn't agree more http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/i...howtopic=122721

Chris

I've also heard great reviews of this piece of theatre - WFA trip?

There was a short snippet on the radio news, last night, about the Queen and Prince Phillip causing a bit of a disturance as they slipped into their seats for a performance of 'War Horse' this week.

My sister's in the current cast - I got a text from her on Monday night to tell me about the Queen in the audience! She cried!

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/22/20091015/tts-u...en-ca02f96.html

Hey all,

The book is written by michael morpurgo who also wrote private peaceful which again is another story about the first world war. This author is amazing and i have wanted to see warhorse for ages.

Thanks for the link

Poppy

Well I hope the Queen and Prince Philip did not feel like we did..! The horses are brilliant and so lifelike..that is the best bit..

The language was appalling especially as there were children in the audience.. and certainly NOT in the book! Why did they have to prolong the 2nd act with talking in german and french when we all know thats where they are. Too drawn out..!

Devon - you'd of thought the mother was from Ireland!

I also thought it was meant to be the horse telling the story not the person..

Sorry to be a kill joy but I was really looking forward to seeing this play after reading the book and meeting Michael Morpugo when he was over. Really feel that they did not keep to the book and why use the language and as for singing over the top - what on earth was that about -the soldiers certainly did not have time to sing!!

And the theatre? well not going back there again- awful!!

All I can say is Well Done the Puppets as I almost fell asleep at the beginning..

Read the book its better!!

LizM

I went to see War Horse, with my kids 10 and 12, on Saturday. They loved it. I thought it was a magical, wonderful and a moving experience. I've been going to the theatre for thirty years, if that's anything to go by, in my view it was the best piece of theatre I have seen. The performance focuses on feuding brothers, nations at war, the involvement of civilians and a German prospective. No disrespect to anyone, but the real heroes, of course, are the horses.

One million horses were taken to France from Britain. 62,000 were brought back.

Forum friends will know that Rawlinson used the 2nd Indian Cavalry Division on 14 July 1916. The 7th Dragoon Guards and the 2nd Deccan Horse attacked around High Wood and what should have been a poetic, futile failure was considerable success. (Sheffield, G. 2001)

Went to see the performance several weeks ago, agree that it is great puppetry. Don't go with your military historical faculties sharpened, just experience it!

I also sadly agree about the theatre - our prime tickets were double-booked and we were rather offhandedly given substitutes at the back with promises of it being looked into...I'm not holding my breath...

LST_164

Sorry Liz I have to disagree entirely,

The language may have been strong but you can't sanitise war- you don't seem overly concerned that people and animals were shown being shot, beaten and stabbed to death while there were kids in the audience.

The French and German in act 2 was actually a refreshing change from pandering to the audience- and added significantly to the atmospere of confusion, fear and panic and also added to the underlying humanity of the play as the Gertman soldier attempted to communicate with the French girl.

Obviously there has to be some dramatic license taken when transfering a book to the stage- hence the absence of a talking horse and some lighter scenes- and as far as I understand the author has given the production his seal of approval.

And as for soldiers not singing- I'm sorry but that is nonsense.

I think it is absolutely wonderful that such a difficult topic is taken to the West End stage and can hold it's own against all the lowest-common-denominator light-entertainment pap which passes for theatre these days.

as LST says- don't go expecting a totally accurate WW1 experience- suspend your disbelief and enjoy the spectacle- perhaps Shakespeare said it best:

O for a Muse of fire, that would ascend
The brightest heaven of invention,
A kingdom for a stage, princes to act
And monarchs to behold the swelling scene!
Then should the warlike Harry, like himself,
Assume the port of Mars; and at his heels,
Leash'd in like hounds, should famine, sword and fire
Crouch for employment. But pardon, and gentles all,
The flat unraised spirits that have dared
On this unworthy scaffold to bring forth
So great an object: can this cockpit hold
The vasty fields of France? or may we cram
Within this wooden O the very casques
That did affright the air at Agincourt?
O, pardon! since a crooked figure may
Attest in little place a million;
And let us, ciphers to this great accompt,
On your imaginary forces work.
Suppose within the girdle of these walls
Are now confined two mighty monarchies,
Whose high upreared and abutting fronts
The perilous narrow ocean parts asunder:
Piece out our imperfections with your thoughts;
Into a thousand parts divide on man,
And make imaginary puissance;
Think when we talk of horses, that you see them
Printing their proud hoofs i' the receiving earth;
For 'tis your thoughts that now must deck our kings,
Carry them here and there; jumping o'er times,
Turning the accomplishment of many years
Into an hour-glass: for the which supply,
Admit me Chorus to this history;
Who prologue-like your humble patience pray,
Gently to hear, kindly to judge, our play.

Saw it when it was on at the National Theatre and was thoroughly entertained, as was my wife and (grown up) daughter.

Saw it last night, absolutely brilliant and by far the best piece of theatre I have ever seen.
As for bad language I found it very mild when compared with most of the drivel dished up on TV these days, particularly the so called 'reality' shows.
Peter

I too have seen this play (and read the book), and thought they were both fantastic. Your disbelief that the horses are "puppets" is soon suspended, as they are totally brought to life. Brilliant stuff.

Anyway, for anyone that's interested there is a programme on More 4 tomorrow night at 8pm, called "The Making of War Horse". (Sat 7th).