The Poor Bloody Infantry awaiting their

O What a Lovely War! Nov 06

The ingenuity and versatility of the Baldon Players knows no bounds and the challenge of this satirical musical play proved their ability.  ‘Oh What a Lovely War' is a success and this success is largely due to the directors.  Martin Stockman and Danny O'Brien who steered this large cast (a little hesitantly at the beginning on the first night but picking up the pace later) through a maze of scenes depicting aspects of the Great War.  These scenes of the social and political history which had such a devastating effect on so many lives is enacted with searing pathos in parts and reveals the muddle, greed and futility of war.  There was hilarity too as in the scene with the sergeant drilling his inept recruits and the touching Christmas Day scene in the trenches.  Martin and Danny acted magnificently as other characters in the play and everyone pulled their weight with good performances.  A great surprise was Richard Barnett as Sir John French:  after Richard's squeaky pantomime dames of past shows, to the authoritative and stupid commander of the British forces.  That is acting.  The bitter-sweet melodious songs of Geraldine Burke made poignant the dreadful consequences of the continuing war.  The pictorial running commentary and war sounds were effectively stage managed by Steve Brodrick, and the music and orchestration of Penny Dudson enlivened the whole play.

Altogether our small villages hold great talent, well assembled in this satirical music drama.  Congratulations to you all.