War Horse

We saw the play War Horse at the Fisher Theatre a few days ago and it was remarkable. The set design is sparse but effective. Suspended above the stage is what looks like a giant torn piece of paper that acts as a projection screen. For the majority of the scenes simple black and white pencil sketches are displayed, ranging from  Devon in the English countryside to war torn France. Most of the props are handheld, which may seem crude and childish at first, but turned out to be  very effective. The elegant simplicity helps place the focus on the actors and the puppets.

The stars of the show are the mechanical horses, etched manned by three skilled puppeteers. The story revolves around Joey the horse and his companion Albert, who enlists in the British Army after Joey is drafted into service at the outbreak of World War I. War Horse is based on the children’s book by Michael Morpurgo and was adapted for the stage by Nick Stafford.
The first half of the play moves quickly. Some of the scenes seem a bit drawn out but it showcases the the beautiful mechanical horses and the skill of the puppeteers. The second half at first seems a bit incoherent if you’re not familiar with the story, but accelerates to an emotional climax when Joey and Albert are reunited at the end.

War Horse is impressive and a worthwhile theatrical experience. The simplicity of the set and striking, and the mechanical horses and the puppeteers are nothing short of magnificent.

Jersey Boys

Barb and I went to the Fisher Theatre in mid-town Detroit last night and saw Jersey Boys. I was a little reluctant to go at first but man, I’m really glad I went. Jersey Boys is a “jukebox-musical” about the Four Seasons, from when they first met to where they matured and finished their careers. The pace is fast- almost too much so, but the music and performance is spectacular. I can honestly say it’s the best performance I’ve ever seen live. If it comes near you, try and see it. You get your money’s worth- it’s around two and a half hours long.

Here’s a couple of links:

http://www.jerseyboysinfo.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jersey_Boys