Journey's End

This review needs to begin with a very warm welcome to Oldbury Rep to NODA!

This company joined District 8 recently and I was able to first experience the company in their purpose-built theatre with the outstanding show Journey’s End. Thank you to Ian Thompson (Chairman) for your kind hospitality and the cheese!

This was an excellent choice of play to mark and reflect this time of the year where we remember the sacrifice made by millions to ensure our freedom.

Journey's End is set towards the end of World War 1 in 1918, in a dug out in Northern France. It tells the story of officers prior to the real-life mission of Operation Michael. It is a play which highlights the many insights of the horrors of war and the psychological effect it had on the young soldiers.

The play opens with the wonderful imagery of Captain Hardy (John Broad) drying a sock by candle light. I felt this image alone remained one of the most powerful and it says so much about the living conditions of the soldiers.

The direction by Melanie Brown was strong and the ENTIRE cast of Journey’s End were compelling to watch. The acting ability of each member of the cast was very impressively in tune with one another and each had a great awareness of their surroundings. There were clear purposes and as an audience member it was very easy to invest and care in the characters.  

The set was brilliantly authentic and primitive. Combined with the lights it successfully helped create a claustrophobic feel of a cold and damp trench. 
There was some truly fantastic light design and changes by Nick Fereday and Mark Guest. In particular there were moments which felt like an old photograph being captured as the colour drained away. It allowed the audience to seek appreciation of the set like a lost piece of art but it also showed a contrast to the stark realism.

The sound was also quite special by Martin Hudson and Steve Willis and carefully thought out adding to the ominous feel of the production.
Hearing the sounds of gunfire blending into the background of a regular day was a scary thought but when the cast took more notice, you as an audience member did the same. It created the feeling that something was on its way!

During the scene of the mission, the sound engulfed an empty stage, this was excellent in creating a genuine concern of who would survive combined with a tormented feeling of not wanting to find out.

The sound became more intense and frequent throughout the play, which helped signify the guns getting closer and time was running out for the soldiers.

2nd Lieutenant Trotter, played by Chris Broad certainly helped the passage of time by owing a piece of paper with circles on it. Each circle represented an hour which he would colour in when it passed. This was a coping mechanism to make the passage of time more physical, less tense. This gave time a tangible depth to the routine and waiting.  

Captain Stanhope, played excellently by Matthew Jeffrey portrayed some amazingly powerful and raw emotions which hit the audience hard. Matthew effectively portrayed somebody with anxiety and stress of somebody who had a lot of responsibility on his shoulders. The interaction with 2nd Lieutenant Hibbert, played by Lee Morgan-Salcombe was quite brilliant. Lee performed the fear of the trenches very convincingly. I also felt the complicated and multi-layered relationship of Stanhope and 2nd Lieutenant Raleigh was portrayed very well.

Lieutenant Osbourne, played by Keith Thompson was absolutely superb. This was a gift of a part. It was excellently cast. There appeared a real genuine loss which was felt by many when Osbourne did not return from his mission. The lead up to his death was incredibly acted. The sense of duty, the sense of loyalty and the trust he placed in his good friend Stanhope with the thoughtful preparation he completed in case he didn’t come back. He completed his duty with a strong sense of detachment, but really, deep down, the anguish, fear and concern was there. It was really well-acted.

There was a wonderful scene where Stanhope, Trotter and Hibbert enjoyed one last meal together with the luxury of champagne. Using alcohol as a distraction (especially Stanhope who acted a little surprised when he realised that the whisky supply was running low) was much better than drowning your sorrows with Onion Tea! Private Mason's specilaity!

Private Mason was played by Mark Moran. It was quite poignant when even the dutiful cook was required to put on uniform and join the ranks at the end. 

I also enjoyed The character of The Colonel played by Andy Brown. The Colonel made it quite clear he did not want to wish his troops well. This was nicely done showing some true colours of the Colonel in not getting his hands dirty but also he was avoiding a potentially awkward conversation. It seemed easy for him to almost detach himself from human emotion, seeing the mission as it is and nearly forgetting (or choosing to forget) the real loss of human life.

A very special mention to 2nd Lieutenant Raleigh, played by George Clayton. This character had a journey which ended in his sad death with Stanhope watching over him. This was extremely emotional.

The last 15 minutes or so truly held the audience in a firm grip as emotions were high. The Last Post played on a bugle, the sudden explosion and collapse of the set around the body of Raleigh which produced an amazing image of destruction and dust. The striking blood red of the poppy petals falling onto the stage like snow and the shadows of the fallen coming onto stage and then disappearing. Followed by silence. Leaving an empty set and a thoughtful audience.

It was an emotional ending and an incredibly powerful evening.

Truly magnificent piece of work. 

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