The Muddy Choir (Tour – Salisbury)

With the 100th anniversary of WW1, 2014 has been laden with plays that
address the futility of the war. Now though Jesse Briton has written a
play for youngsters that focus instead on the individual lives of the
men in the trenches.

Amongst the endless lines of trenches, three lads are heard singing
the songs they grew up with. Thanks to their bursts of song, they
attract a barrage of shells, resulting in the death of a comrade. They
have two options. Face the firing squad, or assist the upcoming
offensive on German lines by attracting the guns through song.

This is written for young audiences and for a WWI play, Briton's latest work is quite light-hearted. Instead of relaying facts about
the impact of war on millions of lives, it focuses on the camaraderie
found in a tiny corner of the Western front.

The three actors are the driving force of the play. Engaging and
endearing, their pact to never kill, but sing is endearing. Stupidly
fearless, Robbie (Ryan Penny) is the life and soul of the trio.
He is full of boundless energy and humour, trying to forget his fear
and frustration in the midst of never ending turmoil.

The show never shies away from the bleakness of No Man's Land. Each
scene is bookended with music amidst the barrages of shelling and
gunfire. The three step around the tiny set that presents the cramped
conditions of the trenches, below a picture of the fractured trees and
muddy ground of Passchendaele. It is only as the play progresses
though that we see how the reality of war hangs of the three lads like
a leaden pall.

As Lance-Corporal, Will (Lawrence Russell) takes up the responsibility
of keeping his friends alive. Soon we learn how much the war has
changed him as he mentally fights to survive. The most poignant
performance though comes from Andrew Burrell as Jumbo, suffering from
the torment of No Man's Land and on the verge of desertion. As the
play progresses this close-knit friendship is brought to breaking
point as the day of the offensive draws near.

A heart-warming but poignant play that sheds light on life in the
trenches through story and song. With only a 1 hour running time, this
compact piece does not outstay its welcome and is an ideal WWI play
for youngsters