March 2, 2009
Private Peaceful is the heart-wrenching story of Tommo, a young soldier due to be shot at dawn during the First World War. We join him in his cell, as he looks back over his all too short life – his childhood in Devon with his family, particularly his brother and protector Charlie and their friend Molly; his early schooldays; the accident that killed his father; the incident that prompted him to lie about his age and join the army with Charlie and his horrific life in the rain-soaked, lice- and rat-riddled trenches.
Tommo does not want to waste his last night sleeping, he wants, more than ever before, to feel “alive”.
With only a camp bed as a prop, Finn Hanlon plays what must be an exhausting role – or rather roles, with such vibrant credibility that it is easy to forget it is a one-man play. Episodes from Tommo’s past are recreated and the different characters brought to life through a variety of accents and expressions.
Private Peaceful is an adaptation of the book of the same name, by former Children’s Laureate Michael Morpurgo. Morpurgo’s books often explore the injustices of life; this one is no exception as it highlights the brutality of executing boy-men for their so-called cowardice during the war – “worthless men” as they were labelled by the courts martial that condemned them – some of the trials lasted only twenty minutes, they never stood a chance.
Tommo marks the passing time by checking his watch. Each time he glances at it, it acts like a break between chapters; then he moves on to remember another incident on the road to his terrible fate. Subtle use of sound effects and lighting changes the mood from a bright, sunny day in the fields of Devon to a dark and terrifying night in the fields of Flanders. We can sense his joy as he bounds through the former – and his despair as he tries to dodge the machine guns in the latter.
It soon becomes clear that far from being a coward, Tommo had shown great bravery, defying orders from his inimical sergeant-major to remain with his injured brother, whom he would not leave behind in no man’s land.
Children accounted for about half of the audience – they remained spellbound throughout the 80-minute performance; several were moved to tears. They had possibly learnt more about the horrors of trench warfare from Private Peaceful than they ever could do from the National Curriculum.
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If you missed Private Peaceful in Oxford you can see a list of their tour dates here - Ed.
Tommo does not want to waste his last night sleeping, he wants, more than ever before, to feel “alive”.
With only a camp bed as a prop, Finn Hanlon plays what must be an exhausting role – or rather roles, with such vibrant credibility that it is easy to forget it is a one-man play. Episodes from Tommo’s past are recreated and the different characters brought to life through a variety of accents and expressions.
Private Peaceful is an adaptation of the book of the same name, by former Children’s Laureate Michael Morpurgo. Morpurgo’s books often explore the injustices of life; this one is no exception as it highlights the brutality of executing boy-men for their so-called cowardice during the war – “worthless men” as they were labelled by the courts martial that condemned them – some of the trials lasted only twenty minutes, they never stood a chance.
Tommo marks the passing time by checking his watch. Each time he glances at it, it acts like a break between chapters; then he moves on to remember another incident on the road to his terrible fate. Subtle use of sound effects and lighting changes the mood from a bright, sunny day in the fields of Devon to a dark and terrifying night in the fields of Flanders. We can sense his joy as he bounds through the former – and his despair as he tries to dodge the machine guns in the latter.
It soon becomes clear that far from being a coward, Tommo had shown great bravery, defying orders from his inimical sergeant-major to remain with his injured brother, whom he would not leave behind in no man’s land.
Children accounted for about half of the audience – they remained spellbound throughout the 80-minute performance; several were moved to tears. They had possibly learnt more about the horrors of trench warfare from Private Peaceful than they ever could do from the National Curriculum.
---------------
If you missed Private Peaceful in Oxford you can see a list of their tour dates here - Ed.