War Horse

I went to see this play at the Ahmanson this weekend and thoroughly enjoyed it. I have not seen the movie, based on the same book. I might, just so I can compare how two very different mediums handle the same story. The sets, lighting, sound, and of course the horse puppets make this a truly theatrical experience. Who needs 3D, just go to the theatre. The horse puppets are really astonishing in how real they become. When the horses are in danger, there were audible gasps in the audience. Despite it being a harrowing war story, there is a lot of humour throughout the piece. The addition of the Song Man who sings at various critical moments in the play adds emotional resonance. I found the story a little simplistic and predictable, but was still moved despite some manipulative tugging of heart strings. Many Americans were introduced to the horrors of WWI through the TV series Downton Abbey, and there is a feeling of doom and foreboding during the preparation for war scenes when the characters still don't know what they're getting into but you do.