Aylesbury Waterside – until the Saturday 15th Feb 2025 with a captioned performance Saturday at 14.00
Reviewed by Rachel Clark
5*****
Very powerful and emotional
This is play of the book written by Sebastain Faulks’s and the stage version by Rachel Wagstaff, directed by Alastair Whatley. The novel was first published in 1993 and is about a Soldier Stephen Wrayford in the First world War and his emotions through the war and his love for Isabelle Azaire – a married woman along the way.
The play is over 3 hours long – though it doesn’t feel like it and is across three parts. The stage is very simple and you wonder how they are going to do all the set changes but it works and the the set changes blend from one scene and the next scene, it is a fairly sparse set but when watching it it doesn’t feel that way and you are totally immersed with the play. You hear the ticking of a clock, birdsong and the noises export you to the set you feel part of, be prepared for gun shot later on the play!
The first scene starts with the modern day and great grandson in a bar looking for the link with the pictures drawn of places and people, as the family had found an old note book, it them moves to the 1900’s.
The play then opens with the years before the war when Stephen Wraysford – played brilliantly by James Esler, travels from England goes to work at the Azaire’s home in France. Rene Azaire is a textile factory owner, and the company is in financial trouble. Stephen is writing up a report and then goes to live with the family which includes Isabelle Azaire – played by Charlie Russell (superbly) and the stepdaughter of Isabelle Lisselle – played by Gracie Follows. Stephen then falls for Isabelle and they end up with raunchy scenes – showing some nudity and sexual scenes. The daughter who has eyes for Stephen finds out.
Stephen and Isabelle leave and live together, but for reasons unknown to Stephen Isabelle leaves, he then goes to war and doesn’t see her again, only in his imagination and memories.
The second part starts in the war, where you get to know the characters the miners and the soldiers. One of the miners is Jack Firebrace – played by Max Bowden (know for his part as Ben Mitchell in Eastenders), Tipper a young lad from the infantry -played my Raif Clake, you follow their own stories of the war and family life as they read their letters from home, it is emotional . The scenes are set in the trenches , even though intense there are some humorous parts which I think you need to take away some of the darkness of the play. The play continues with injuries and loss of comrades.
The war takes Stephen back to the town of the Azaire’s and he meets Isabelle’s sister in a bar and she arranges Stephen to meet with Isabelle , but she has changed.
There is a scene when Brennan – played by James Findlay sings a powerful chant, his voice so clear and it mesmerises you, and gets to you emotionally, it is quite haunting and as with most of the play the theatre was silent.
Near the end of the thirds part you are transported back to the modern day, with talk of the drawings, and then as he flicks through the note books the characters come on stage.
ALL of the cast where outstanding,
A very powerful play that I am so glad I have seen it and would definitely recommend it, it is recommended for 15+.