The Unknown Soldier - Review

Post

Subscribe

Tue 08 Nov 2016 - Sun 13 Nov 2016

Rarely can something of the magnitude and scale of a world war be encapsulated in less than an hour. But that is certainly what author Ross Ericson has achieved in his moving one-man play called The Unknown Soldier which deals with the aftermath of the First World War.



The play, which was performed at the Lichfield Garrick theatre on November 8, lasts a mere 50 minutes. But, thanks to the skill of Mr Ericson, who also acts in the production himself, the audience was left well and truly moved by the dialogue being delivered on stage. And, in a clever twist, the production also gives an interesting theory as to the occupant of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Westminster Abbey.



The setting is a former World War One battlefield in France exactly two years to the day since the signing of the Armistice which silenced the guns for the final time. But while virtually everyone else on both sides of the bloody conflict has gone home, army sergeant Jack is one of a small number of British troops tasked with searching the battlefield for the bodies of British soldiers left behind so their deaths can be registered and their loved ones notified.



The play certainly pulls no punches in describing the grim nature of the work, both in finding the bodies, or parts thereof, but also having to search their pockets for any clues as to their identity. But Jack has a hidden motive for searching the abandoned trenches, bomb craters and rusting barbed wire for the boys that died in battle - he also has to try and keep a promise that he made to Tom, a former school friend and comrade in arms who was one of the millions who failed to make it to the end of the war.



Ross delivers his lines in the Garrick's intimate studio theatre as if talking to his fallen comrade. He does so as he returns to his billet following a day spent looking for bodies on the still muddy, stinking battlefield. But his daily routine is briefly shattered when he suddenly recalls the sheer panic of heavy shelling, followed by a fierce attack on the British trenches.

Despite the obvious grim nature of The Unknown Soldier, which is produced by Grist to the Mill Productions - of which Ross Ericson is one of the founders - the play also has its humorous moments such as describing a fellow soldier's encounter with a roast duck. The Unknown Soldier, which enjoyed its première at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2015, is now going on the road throughout 2017 and 2018 to coincide with the centenary of the First World War.

Forthcoming Dates

Thursday 10 Nov Old Well Theatre, Moffat 7.30pm

Friday 11 Nov The Swallow Theatre, Newtown Stewart 3pm

Saturday 12 Nov Bridge House Theatre, Penge 2pm & 7.30pm

Sunday 13 Nov Bridge House Theatre, Penge 4pm

#shows
#performing_arts
#near_birmingham
#history
#Drama
#theatre
#november
!date 08/11/2016 -- 13/11/2016
%wnbirmingham