The Company's production of R.C. Sheriff's Journey's End is a moving and at times harrowing account of frontline life in World War I.
Director Jennie Joyce has assembled an all male cast and gets strong performances from the main characters.
Raleigh, a fresh-faced Greg Saxton, arrives at the trenches straight from public school into the same battalion as his school friend and hero Stanhope. The excited new boy hopes to pick up their friendship three years after Stanhope joined the war.
Stanhope drinks like a fish to ease his tormented mind and worries that Raleigh despises him for this, despite the assurances from the avuncular Osborne, second in command. There is a beautifully played amity between these two.
Osborne also takes young Raleigh under his wing as they talk about rugger, which is absolutely topping.
The soldiers use different coping strategies for stopping the mind from dwelling on the horror of war during the quiet periods. Trotter, the ever-reliable Craig Walton, endures the boring wait for the German attack by crossing off 1440 hours, one by one. Stanhope numbs his mind with whisky. Hibbert tells tall stories. Osborne recites Lewis Carroll ditties and Raleigh's just too new to be scared yet.
Ultimately all the men have the same terrible secret, which they can never admit. They feel fear. Not necessarily of dying but that the fear may take them over.
Rob Joyce shines as Captain Stanhope and Ken Rowe gives solid support as Osborne. Greg Saxton was well cast if a bit hesitant. Alex Moore amuses as the cook.
Well worth a look.
By Stephen Grigg |
