Friendly Invasion

Report

Author: Sarah Meers

A wet evening’s drive to Harleston was well worth the anticipation of seeing their current touring production of Friendly Invasion. A buzzing foyer and warm welcome as usual with a sold-out audience. As a bonus, created the right atmosphere for Eileen Ryan’s interpretation of East Anglia’s memories of World War 2 and the American invasion.

It began with Station 366, a local swing singing group crooning effectively a compilation of songs from the era, which continued throughout the play. This successfully distracted the audience from scene changes and enhanced the swing dancers from the Red Feather Club: both of these extra groups added a brilliant ambience to the plot.

Harleston Players were ever-present in the dramatic storyline scenes and they never fail to impress with their individual acting skills and talents. All of this impressive cast were outstanding in their understanding and portrayal of the different personalities involved in the relationships and this combined to make the most moving perception of togetherness – the final scenes of the inevitable loss that war brings, depicted the pathos with an intensity to create ‘not a dry eye in the house’. A truly outstanding drama! Every single member of the cast, additional roles, Station 366 singers and Red Feather Club were sensational.

Eileen Ryan, the writer and director put together with the singers and dancers, a remarkable play with music which totally immersed the audience and myself into this defining era of World War 2 and it’s influence of the American invasion over the East Anglian community.

The costumes were appropriate for modern day 2024 and the 40’s, as were the props and scenery and the simple skyline for the backdrop was just right.

The use of the kitchen table for the tractor, the jeep and even the cow was a brainwave and the sound effects made them all plausible.

The dysfunctional mike with one of the singers was dealt with in character and I liked the 2 Americans meeting again in the New York scene- the changing of tea cups to pizza to wine glasses was efficiently done by working these items in a circle by the attending waiters. Maybe when blocking scenes on the set consider the placing of the characters in a position, where they can be seen by the audience.

This clever World War 2 / up to date drama adeptly combined all the emotions of both eras to perfection and I loved every minute. Congratulations to everyone involved in this breathtaking performance of Friendly Invasion.

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