TribLIVE: Every once in a while a play comes along that restores belief in the future of live theater.
Such a play is touring version of the National Theatre of Great Britain’s production of “War Horse” now at the Benedum Center through Sunday as a presentation of PNC Broadway Across America — Pittsburgh.
4 comments:
War Horse is the most amazing production I have ever seen. The story, acting, and directing were all amazing. But what really made the show as engrossing as it is was the amazing way media and puppets were used. The highly skilled and well thought out way the projections and sound was used was absolutely amazing, as well as the finely tuned puppets.
War Horse is an mazing show because it is so beyond what people expect to see in a play. Much of this can be attributed to the sense of magic that runs through all the design and performance elements. It allows for more freedom in areas like media. Media integration has not made it's way as a force to be reckoned with in plays since it can distract from the "realism" of the piece (a realism that has already been dismissed in musicals, where media is rampant). Being able to smoothly integrate media in a story without taking away the believability is something War Horse has a mastery of.
I absolutely love everything about this play. It has great media design as well as puppetry. It's a shame that most know of War Horse as the Stephen Spielberg movie. The film gives audiences realistic images, but the play opens the audience into the world of theatricality. The production evokes more emotion than the movie. I love how the puppets must strive to look alive while the actors strive to look dead. I am curious as to how the production was staged at the Benedum. I know that a unique stage was built at Lincoln Center. I believe it was a rounded stage, but the Benedum itself is very linear. I'm wondering how they changed the production and if it would have the same effect on the audience as it did in New York City and London.
I really like this article on "War Horse." It's certainly an amazing show, and one you must experience live and in person... not just through a film. While the film is good for other reasons, you simply can't beat the live experience provided in the theater. Incredible puppets, and sets bring the children's story to life in a new way. As the article says, this show "restores belief in the future of live theater," and connects to new generations.
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