War Horse

*****
How do you Michael Morpurgo's story told through a horses eyes to the stage? Somehow, the national has managed it with flawless succcess.
War Horse tells the journey of 'Joey' from being a foal until he is sold at auction to the Naracott's, simply because Billy Naracott, renowned drunkard wishes to best his brother Arthur. Albert, Billy's son (Kit Harington) is given the task of bringing Joey up and the pair become inseperable friends - until Joey is sold by Arthur's father to go to war. However, on the news that Major Nicholls, the soldier who buys Joey, has died, Albert also joins the war effort in hope of reuniting with Joey who has been taken in by the German Hauptmann Friedrich Muller. This is a heartfelt story full of emotion, telling the tale of the forgotten heroes in the war - the horses. Attaining the audiences unquestionable belief in the animals through dexterous use of puppetry.
Kit Harington shines as the star of the show as Albert in his first stage role since graduating from Central School of Speech and Drama, and Patrick O'Kane as Hauptmann Friedrich Muller is brilliant. Folk musician Tim Van Eyken is also hauntingly good as the Song Man. Rae Smith's stage design (of which the drawings are available in a free exhibition at the National) are to be very highly commended. A streak across the height of the stage acts as the background of the scene, displaying Major Nicholls drawings of Joey or wherever they are, becoming increasingly less detailed as the reach war ground. Equally good are Marianne Elliot and Tom Morris' direction, and Adrian Sutton's music.
But arguably the best performances are given by horse puppeteers and their ability to make them appear real. War Horse is an innovative production not to be missed!

Veronica Grubb