Oh! What a Lovely War

Synopsis

Comic expose of the savage futility of war in general and the First World War in particular.' Your Country Needs You' - The rallying call for a generation to do their patriotic duty and fight for king and country. A slogan which resonates with bitter futility for doomed youth who fought and died in the Great War, which claimed 10 million lives and left twice that number wounded and maimed. Oh! What a Lovely War tells the story of this defining event of the 20th century through songs, sketches and period newsreel. A rousing musical, presented as a music hall revue, this highly charged satire on war and its horror is, in turns, brilliantly comic and deeply moving.

Our Review:

Simon Tavener - 18 May 2010

It is very rarely that I give a 5 star rating to any production and I only do so when I feel that a production truly exceeds expectations. This covers all aspects of the work - the technical presentation, the director's vision and the performance of the cast. The Northern Stage production of Oh! What a Lovely War does just that. It takes a minor modern classic and gives it a new spin that serves the original creators with honour and communicates with devastating emotional directness.

Erica Whyman and Sam Keynon direct with passion and panache. Taking such an iconic original and making it fresh for modern audiences is never an easy task but they embrace the Music Hall roots of Joan Littlewood's script and add their own twists - drawing largely on the modern phenomenom of burlesque. With a wider range of musical influences, the arrangements (played by the talented cast) are fresh, modern and full of wit - but there is always a harsh edge to the comedy. I am certain ...

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Latest User Review

Adam Osmond - 19 May 2010:

This production was indeed fantastic, however it lacked a certain 'umph', that is needed to complete this show, some live explosions rather than just a drum beat would have been needed like the original to remind everyone they are watching a war, However it was a great performance that honoured it well and new add-ons we're brilliant 'any advance on 2010' I particularly enjoyed. ...

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