A funny and moving celebration of the power of community with creative stagecraft throughout.Rating
Excellent!
A 2011 BBC documentary sparked the creation of choirs in military bases across the UK as a way of forming friendships and community amongst the partners of serving soldiers. This new musical is based on this story, albeit with fictional characters.
Debbie Isitt’s script is excellent – there are many moments of humour, with some genuine laugh-out-loud moments, as well as some extremely moving scenes. Various well-known pop, rock and Motown songs are used throughout. Caroline Sheen’s solo performance of ‘A Thousand Miles’ is subtly and beautifully choreographed by Rebecca Louis; as she sings to her dead son, we see him in the military as she remembers him. During the song, he stands behind her and moves just as she turns, so she doesn’t quite see him. He reaches out his hand and misses hers by millimetres – her longing for him feels palpable.
Katie Lias’ stage design leans into well-known symbols of the military. Barbed wire arches tower above the stage with poppies woven into them, and the cardboard boxes, used in all scenes, represent the ever-changing and moving life of a military family. When soldiers receive letters from home, these fall from the sky and the soldiers try to catch them.
Rory Beaton’s use of lighting creates atmosphere and mood changes very effectively – the deceased son of the colonel is lit in a dim blue in a scene where his mother sings for him, making him seem ghost-like. Flashing lights create panic in the combat scenes and then create a romantic moment when a couple dances under a starry sky created with lights.
Particularly memorable scenes are those where the audience is reminded of the real threat of war. A choir rehearsal is interrupted by a conflict scene and then immediately reverts back to the women singing, totally unaware of what their partners are experiencing. The most impactful scene is the aftermath of the death of Adam, the husband of choir member Sarah. His death scene is creatively done, with red confetti falling from him as he dies. It is noteworthy that it is the youngest wife who loses her husband, depicting the unrelenting cruel nature of war. Sydney Isitt-Ager’s raw reaction is extremely moving – she climbs into the final box that she had yet to unpack in her new home, representing the helplessness that grief creates and the feeling of being trapped. The other women’s reactions further add to the sorrow of the scene – as Adam’s body is paraded past them, each woman reacts in turn. ‘Fix You’ is sung during this scene, and the harmonies are stunning, with many audience members in tears.
Alongside the many moving moments, the show is infused with humour. Stewart Wright as Dave the Welfare Officer is a hilarious supporting character, whilst the comedic timing of chaotic Jenny (Jessica Daley) and gobby Krissy (Rachael Wooding) provides light relief throughout. It is also inspiring and heartwarming – the second act demonstrates the impact of the choir on the women. Timid Sarah, who is practically a mute in the first act, finds her voice, Jenny no longer wears her dressing gown in every scene, and Krissy stops smoking. It’s a stark reminder of the importance of friendship, especially for those in difficult situations.
The show is a celebration of the power and importance of community, and the balance between sorrowful and funny moments is perfectly done. The finale absolutely raised the roof and had many audience members on their feet. It’s a feel-good musical with an important message at its core.
Writer & Director: Debbie Isitt
Musical Director, Arranger & Orchestrator: George Dyer
Designer: Katie Lias
Lighting Designer: Rory Beaton
Sound Designer: Richard Brooker
Movement Director: Rebecca Louis
Military Wives – The Musical plays at York Theatre Royal until Saturday 27 September.
