What? You Haven’t Seen War Horse Yet?

You’ve heard about it.  Steven Spielberg has turned it into an epic film, nominated for six Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and two Golden Globes.  Yet, the true magic is in the theater, with life-sized puppets depicting the story of “War Horse“.

The tender story of love, courage and tenacity is taken from the 1987 children’s novel of the same name, written by British author Michael Morpurgo.  His inspiration was the millions of horses that suffered and died during World War I, when it was discovered that horses were not very effective against modern machinery.

The story is set just prior and during World War I, when a young boy becomes the trainer of a beautiful Bay Thoroughbred, and teaches it to come to an owl’s call, emitted through his cupped hands.  His father, indebted to his landlord, is forced to sell the horse to a British regiment in order to save his farm.  The young boy, Albert, wants desperately to stay with the horse, Joey, but is too young to sign up for service.  As the horse is led away, Albert ties his father’s pennants, the awards of a previous war, to the horse’s bridle for luck.

The story follows the horse through the years of terrible war, and a short series of owners, each one somehow touched and changed by the gentle animal.  As the story nears its end, Joey is caught in a barbed wire fence.  Through the dust and smoke, both sides notice and are astonished a horse could still be alive at the end of the terrible battle.  He is cut free and taken to the British camp, where Albert, now an enlisted soldier, realizes this is the horse he has been searching for.  He gives the owl call, and Joey comes to him.

Set on a spectacular stage, the powerful production is filled with stirring music and incredible artistry.  South Africa’s Handspring Puppet Company brings astonishing, life-like full-scale horses to life — their flanks, hides and sinews built of steel, leather and aircraft cables.  Cast first in London, this moving drama is block-busting its way into American hearts.  Check your theater schedule today.  You won’t want to miss a moment of War Horse.

Categorized in: Theater