War Horse - A Play Review

WarHorse play promo picture - Copyright of warhorseonstage.com

Unlike many War Horse fans I never read the book as a child. It wasn't until I was 17/18 that I even heard about it and that was because my friends were quoting the film non stop. One of them was beyond excited that she was finally seeing the play. This was in about 2012. It sounded amazing but I didn't watch the film until at least a year later at my friend Jenn's house. Jenn is a War Horse fanatic. This girl knows and loves her War Horse and she finally got to see it live herself just a  few weeks ago. To say I was jealous was an understatement, All I had heard was amazing things and here was more proof that it was amazing.

Maybe some of you are wondering why there has been a sudden increase in War Horse talk and that's because the play is finally coming to an end after many years. The puppets will be packed away, the horses sent out to the field and the cast will give their final bow and it will be a hard thing to see. Before Joey got his last pat on the back I knew I needed to see him. The alternative was facing regret that would have lasted a life time. Sounds dramatic I know but having seen the play I know now that's what it would have been.

'It was phenomenal' is the easiest thing I can say about it. I can't adequately portray my love as it was so magical. Even now, weeks later, I can't believe what I saw and just how much it touched me. The atmosphere is intense and you can almost think that it is all real. War is a hard topic to discuss due to it's unbearable horror but as the men started falling and the horses wheezing I almost thought I too was at war.

As a small note they speak some French and German in the play and I was amazed to find that my small amount of knowledge from GCSE French managed to get me through! It would have been great to have gone with a German speaking friend to discuss the finer details of the conversation. Don't worry if you don't know even vague snippets of either language though because it is pretty self explanatory and you can work it out just fine.

Another reason why I think I found it so special is that I have never been to London's West End to see a production before. Other than my towns local panto's I haven't been to the theatre which may have added to the magic for me on top of it all.

Have you seen any theatre recently? What do you recommend?

Sophie

- Note - I had written this review several weeks ago when I saw the production on the 12th of Feb and sadly the production has finally come to a close.