God Wept and the Devil Laughed - NeverBeenSeen

Synopsis

The play charts their incredible wartime journey: from the idyllic Ribble Valley, through to war in North Africa and Italy, and on to the gruesome liberation of Bergen-Belsen concentration camp. The sequel to an extraordinary story, this is a moving exploration of familial love and courage in a time of hate and war.

Our Review:

17 July 2011

In the late 20th Century the discovery of bones on Pendle Hill prompts Ken (Matthew Ganley) and Lewis (David Crowley) to recall their military service as under aged volunteers in World War 11.
 
Writer/ director Justin MacGregor based his script upon tales told within his family. Inevitably, therefore, the script feels episodic. The story is communicated verbally rather than through actions, which is unfortunate as the dialogue is very poor. A certain amount of exposition to set the scene has to be accepted  but it makes for clunky conversations. Even when characters express their feelings or hopes in monologue they do so using stock phrases to the point of parody.
 
MacGregor’s direction is unimaginative and the scenes often static. Important points about the human cost of war and how wartime experiences can warp individuals are hammered home with a lack of subtlety.
 
The material limits the cast greatly amd Ganley narrates in...

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Latest User Review

John - 20 March 2013:

I think the reviewer fell asleep on the tram and missed it. It was brilliant....

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