Review: Silent Night at Forum Studio Theatre

Dec 10 2008 Chester Chronicle

SILENT NIGHT/Forum Studio Theatre, Chester

REVIEW/by Peggy Woodcock

NEVER mind these noisy pantomimes - I have just seen the perfect Christmas show.

Silent Night, a musical play by Theatre in the Quarter, in the Forum Theatre on Tuesday, told the story of the Christmas truce in the trenches during the Second World War.

Not an obvious festive winner, you would think, but you would be wrong. Heart-warming was the word for this miniscule, magnificent production, which tapped into the bravery, poignancy and, yes, stubborn humour of war, and sent us out uplifted.

Somehow, on a pocket handkerchief stage, four actors gave us the story of the war, even from its origins, the shooting of Archduke Ferdinand. It was a retrospective commemoration of the ninetieth anniversary of the ending of the great conflict - from a unique viewpoint.

For here were the Blakeleys, two brothers, sister and sister’s fiance, viewing the distant war from cosy Chester, speculating during tea by the River Dee. And here were the Cheshires, the regiment the men joined, one of them just a boy, hankering after adventure.

Off they went to ‘have a pop at the Hun’ and we were with them as the hollow ‘adventure’ took them into terrible suffering in the trenches, as the brave sister swapped Chester infirmary for a field hospital in Serbia.

This was innovative theatre at its best, with talented professional actors backed by a local amateur choir, with minimum props and atmospheric lighting., Through dialogue, narration and song, the deadly story of the Somme was told.

It moved to a climax of the Christmas truce, when Fritz and Tommy briefly stopped being enemies, briefly found a common humanity, even friendship, in a meeting, and a game of football in no man’s land.

It was cleverly and sensitively handled. A rendering of Silent Night brought a lump to the throat. Auld Lang Syne warmed us (in a rather cold theatre!).

The impressive aspect of this production is that it’s an original work. Playwright Helen Newall has produced a well-researched, fine piece of writing. Composer and musical director Matt Baker has woven in original and traditional songs to great effect.

The cast, Elizabeth Bassham, Paul Dabek, Thomas Latham and Jay McWinon, the choir, and the director, Russ Tunney, have done it full justice.

Silent Night is also in the great tradition of community theatre, for there is a schedule of performances in schools and village halls, all sold out. We will all have enjoyed a thought-provoking theatrical treat.