I was fortunate enough to see War Horse at Lincoln Center in NYC this past Saturday with my family. Simply put, it was one of the best pieces of theater I think I have ever seen. The puppetry alone was worth seeing the show. But the combination of historical memory, great acting, and creative use of technique and artistry really put it over the top. It was sobering to sit there with my boyfriend and brother and realize that they would likely be the first generation in my recent family history not to be drafted into a war. I am so grateful.
Life was also just so hard during that period, whether it was because of a lack of control due to world events or because daily tasks were an onerous grind. I know some about World War I (although not as much as I know about World War II) but I hadn’t realized that it was the clash of new and old technologies, especially in warfare. The idea that soldiers rode horses straight into barbed wire and machine guns without knowing what they were facing is horrible.
Anyways, even if you are not a student of history, the masterful work of the Handspring Puppet Company is worth the price of admission. The animals seem to come to life and bring a sort of magic to the performance that I believe is rare. A must see if you can swing it, I felt privileged to be in the audience.
