Hello Beautiful People,
In every person’s life, there is a time when they have to force themselves into experiences they wouldn’t normally choose to have. When I first saw the movie preview of War Horse, I declared that I would never, ever, ever see the film.
Let me explain…
I don’t watch war movies. I hate to watch people die, and in war films, deaths occur in abundance. I love action films, sci-fi, horrors, drama, and I know people could/might/do die in those kinds of films, too. But war films are different, and so I don’t watch them. I also don’t watch movies about animals. Remember the 90s? Homeward Bound? Free Willy? Congo? Air Bud? Yea, I missed a lot of good films. Films about animals hurt my heart. I cry the whole time, even during “happy” movies. For example, I sobbed through the most recent Planet of the Apes film, because the CGI monkeys looked too real, and they looked sad, and I was heartbroken. (Yes, I know it’s ridiculous.)
So, when I cried through the one minute preview of War Horse in the middle of the movie theater, I knew I could never see it.
Cut to the development of the play War Horse. I heard about it, and I was even excited for a friend who was cast in the tour of it, and I applauded its sweep of the Tony’s in 2011, where it won 5 awards including Best Play. But I could never actually see it. A play about animals and war? I didn’t even see the movie! So I firmly set myself to congratulating my friend safely from Facebook, and never thought of it again. Until, of course, my students were offered tickets to go and see War Horse, which was still running at Lincoln Center. I would be deemed a cruel and unusual teacher if I denied them the opportunity to go. And so, I was pushed into an experience I never intended to have, one that I had gone out of my way to avoid.
War Horse, I can firmly say, is one of the best pieces of theatre I have ever seen.
From beginning to end, I cried. But, I cried because I was so in love with the characters depicted on stage, because I was so touched by this simple story of a boy and his horse, and because I was so grateful I had an opportunity to see such a brilliant piece of art, and even more grateful that I had been thrust into a situation I had resisted for so long.
War Horse was originally a novel written by Michael Mopurgo, and was later adapted into a film, where it was directed by Steven Spielberg. Nick Stafford, in association with Handspring Puppet Company, adapted this heartwarming story into a phenomenal piece of theatre. The tale begins in the English countryside, and follows the journey of a boy and his horse into the trenches of World War I. The horse is sold to the English army, and the boy soon follows, refusing to be separated from his beloved friend. The search spans across Germany and France, as Joey, the horse, fights for both sides, and finds himself deep into no-man’s land. The entire time, his first rider and friend is right behind him every step of the way. It is overwhelming and uplifting, even against the terrible backdrop of the First World War.
The most incredible part of this piece is the puppets that create the horse. The horse is not one large puppet, as I imagined it might be. There are no strings attached, and, (sadly or luckily, depending on the intensity of your nostalgia for your childhood) there are no stuffed heads attached to long wooden dowels. Instead, there are multiple pieces that are manned by a number of actors that when held together, make a horse. There are separate people who control the legs, the tail, the head, the ears, and the ribcage. Made of leather, steel, and aircraft cables, these life-sized puppets are strong enough to carry a human rider. Handspring Puppet Company has done a marvelous job in the creation and depiction of the equestrian characters. I promise, although the many people needed to create the horses are visible, you never see “just a bunch of people in black carrying props.” Instead, you watch an incredibly brave performance of beautiful, not-so-human characters, who start to seem so real, that by intermission you think about asking if you can pet the horses after the show. The sound effects (also created by the puppeteers) mimic each huff, snort, and neigh to perfection. With each breath the ribcage expands, the ears flick back and forth, the head bobs, the tail flicks, and you fall in love with this proud horse named Joey, who defies all odds and refuses to give up.
The actors work just as hard as the puppets. They bravely and faithfully recreate the small Irish village that was once home to a horse and his boy, as well as the brutal realities of a war-torn Europe at the beginning of the 20th century. The set is equally outstanding, with gorgeous projections above the stage and a rotating dais that is used to depict some of the more “impossible” galloping scenes. Music and sound are employed to create all of the shells exploding, guns firing, and simple Irish tunes being sung back ‘ome. Every element of this production comes together with simplicity and beauty, serving the original story in a way I would have said was impossible in the live theater. Impossible right up until now.
Although War Horse ended its Broadway run on January 6th, the show is still touring around the nation, and will certainly be easy to catch, as it is beloved by audiences all around the country. You may feel skeptical about a play about friendship and ponies done with puppets, but I can assure you that there is no subject more valuable, no story more grown up, and no depiction more delightful than War Horse.
Sometimes, the planets align, and the thing you had always avoided becomes the thing you needed the most. War Horse brought me joy, and restored my faith in the goodness of man. Take a chance and go see this phenomenal production. It’s worth every penny, every smile, every cringe, and every tear.
Live, Love, Learn,
Rebecca & The Write Teacher(s)
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