BWW Reviews: The Canadian Company of WAR HORSE

War Horse had its Toronto debut last night, boasting an all Canadian cast and crew. The Toronto company marks the third sit-down production of the Tony and Olivier Award Winning play worldwide with productions already underway in London and New York City.  Based on the novel by Michael Morpurgo about a young boy whose horse is sold off to the cavalry during WWI, the play has been embraced by critics and audiences alike since debuting in England in 2007 and has since opened to critical acclaim on Broadway and spawned an Oscar nominated film adaptation by Steven Spielberg. 

I was admittedly a bit guarded going into the show last night, mainly due to concern that it couldn’t possibly live up to all its hype.  That is the danger with incredibly successful productions such as this – they end up being so anticipated and discussed that sometimes they open and fail to live up to the immense expectations the public has created for them.  Thankfully for the Canadian production of War Horse, the opposite is true.  The production not only met the expectations people had going in, it seemed to exceed them.

The show is visually stunning, emotionally heartbreaking and possesses the unique ability to unite an entire theatre filled with people of different age ranges and backgrounds in one common theatrical experience.  At the heart of the production is Joey, the horse given to young Albert (played by Alex Furber) and subsequently sold to the English cavalry to fight in WWI.  Joey is a stunning example of what can be achieved when puppetry combines with accomplished actors to create theatre magic.  Sitting in the audience, you quickly forget you are watching three people operate Joey, as he begins to take on an entire personality and life all his own.  The same is true for the other animals, from Joey’s pal Topthorn right down to the vultures, birds and very comical duck.  The actors who handle the animals do a phenomenal job of letting the puppetry shine, and it's easy to suspend your disbelief and imagine that they are in fact real.

As young Albert, Alex Furber shines in the lead role and carries the weight of this production with a shocking maturity considering his young age.  He carefully balances demonstrating the close bond between his character and Joey with the relationships with his parents, friends and comrades at war, all the while demonstrating growth and maturity as the play progresses.  The audience willingly goes along on this journey with him, and eagerly shares in Albert’s plight to find his beloved horse.

The supporting cast is equally talented, and showcases the immense stage talent this city has to offer.  Brad Rudy is heartbreaking as Albert’s father, a man struggling with his own guilt about not having fought for his country in previous wars and battling alcoholism.  When he sells Joey to the cavalry the audience can clearly see the internal struggle as he wrestles with the knowledge that he’s hurting his son by parting with his beloved horse. As Albert’s Mom, Tamara Bernier-Evans brings much needed balance and kindness to the Nerracott family, working hard to keep them together and to assuage the tension between her son and her husband.

Adding to the theme of familial conflict in War Horse is Steven Yaffee as Albert’s nephew, a slightly spoiled boy who seems to delight in the fact that Albert’s family is struggling and who yearns to posses Joey for himself.  Yaffee does a wonderful job of portraying the character as unlikeable, and then quickly turns it around when the young boy is forced by his father (an equally impressive Richard McMillian) to go off to war. 

Other stand outs include Brendan Murray as the English officer who promises to take care of Joey on the front lines, and Patrick Galligan as a German soldier who develops an unlikely bond with Joey and Topthorn in the second half of the play.  These two men help demonstrate the humanity within a very inhumane war – while representing opposing sides they each show stark similarities in personality, kindness and a love and respect for the horses forced to the front.  Their characters serve as a gut-wrenching reminder of the unnecessary pain inflicted on so many men (and beasts) who fought in WWI, as well as reminding the audience that sometimes the ‘enemy’ can be a friend after all.  This is further outlined in a touchingly funny scene near the end of the show where German and French soldiers work together to free Joey from a barb wire entanglement in No Man’s Land.

In the end, War Horse succeeds on many levels, from the brilliant writing, direction, lighting and sound design to the breathtaking puppetry and talented cast.  It takes a very simple story about a boy and his horse and takes it to a whole other level, commenting on family, friendship, war and the enduring nature of the human spirit.  It’s clear to see why this show has been embraced so heartily for the last number of years, and if Tuesday’s audience reaction was indicative of things to come, War Horse should have a long and healthy life here in Toronto.

When and Where?

War Horse

The Princess of Wales Theatre

Seats on Sale until September 30^th 2012

Performance Schedule

Tuesday – Saturday at 7:30PM

Wednesday and Sunday at 1:30PM

Tickets range from $45 to $175 and can be purchased in person at the box office, by phone at 416-872-1212 or online at www.mirvish.com

Photo by Racheal McCaig Photography

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