Oh what a lovely show (From Stourbridge News)

Oh what a lovely show

11:27am Wednesday 19th November 2008

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BLACKEYED Theatre Company's version of Oh What A Lovely War was a charming piece of theatre.

Presented at Wolverhampton's Arena Theatre as part of the Remembrance season, the company's stunning dramatisation of Joan Littlewood's razor-sharp look at the futility of war proved a sell-out on both nights (November 11 and 12).

The five-strong band of actors did sterling jobs of taking the audience on a touching yet funny journey through the history of World War I.

Singing, playing their own instruments, taking on the roles of both men and women with equal gusto and joking with the audience in between scenes, the all-male cast were absolutely fabulous.

All brought just the right blend of humour and poignancy to the production, produced and directed by Adrian McDougall.

Stourbridge actor Matthew Rowlands-Roberts, who had just four days of rehearsals before joining the UK tour halfway into its successful run, had the audience in stitches with his slapstick movements, comic facial expressions, superb timing and array of credible accents.

Paul Morse was also brilliant. He had an intense and engaging stage presence that just commanded the audience's attention throughout.

Fellow cast members Lee Drage, Ben Harrison and Tom Neill were also thoroughly entertaining.

A cracking dramatisation, quite unlike anything I've ever seen before, which succeeded whole-heartedly at hammering home the horrors of war.

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