Oh What a Lovely War – Liverpool Playhouse

Writer: Joan Littlewood

Director: Erica Whyman & Sam Kenyon

Reviewer: Stephanie Rowe

The Public Reviews Rating:

It is hard to know exactly where to begin when writing this review as it’s not what one would call a musical nor is it a play in the true sense of the word, it is more a compilation of First World War songs and re-enactments of various war time moments. So far it sounds awful but to be honest it was a fantastic show that kept me entertained from beginning to end, and was nothing like I expected.

The twelve strong cast were magnificent each playing musical instruments of various descriptions and each playing more than one role throughout the show. You did not even realise that the show had actually begun with the cast coming on and meandering around the stage as if they were preparing to start by lining up certain props that would be needed and Gary Kitching telling the audience to carry on with their chit chat as they were not quite ready, which of course had the whole auditorium go quiet and then he started the hello’s with the top row and then the middle causing the pantomime atmosphere that makes me cringe, but also found me laughing at the whole set up and before we even realised the show was underway.

The set designed by Angela Simpson could not have been more undemanding in fact she actually used the theatre wall as the back drop and the rest of the set were various props and instruments spread around the stage. Each prop was used imaginatively. The lighting set up by Charles Balfour was fantastic using desk lights along the front of the stage for when actors were relating stories from the trenches.

This show thou very entertaining did make me very aware of what life would have been like in the Great War and was very poignant causing me moments of great over whelming emotion, this is obviously down to the great writing of Joan Littlewood and the fantastic direction of Erica Whyman and Sam Kenyon, but the main praise has to go to the marvellous actors and their ability to relate to the parts they were portraying. Each actor gave one hundred percent to this production whether it was in their singing, playing of instruments or acting. This is a definitely not to be missed show and runs at the Liverpool Playhouse until Sat 3rd April and very well worth while night out.