REVIEW-


WAR HORSE

'War Horse' has been a critical success around the world and it has now opened in Australia. Melbourne was chosen for its debut on New Year's Eve. It is easy to see why so many audiences have praised the show. While Act 1 is somewhat long-winded, and the plot itself barely strays from other horse tales such as 'National Velvet' or 'Black Beauty', the presentation itself is very impressive. The puppeteers handling the horses are visible throughout, but they become part of the equine characters. The horses in the storyline come to life and I noticed many audience members weeping during the show when tragedy befalls one animal. By Act 2, the storyline picks up considerably too.
This production is well worth experiencing, if only for the radical way the stage is used to represent the battlefield or a ship at sea; as well as the sheer magnificence of the beasts.