At first, I feared we had arrived late because the curtains were open and something was happening on stage but the house lights were still up, people were still chatting and standing around. The stage was light and centre stage was a tractor with a man working on it. To the right was a gentleman sitting on a chair, reading a newspaper. Then the bell went, so I breathed a sigh of relief and relaxed.
Michael Morpurgo’s “Farm Boy”, adapted and directed for the theatre by Daniel Buckroyd and brought to us by Scamp Theatre and New Perspectives Theatre Company, shows what can be done with minimal scenery, allowing the audience to concentrate on the ability of the actors. And what a fine performance we saw tonight from the actors – John Walters as the Grandfather and Gareth Bennett-Ryan as his Grandson.
Michael Morpurgo’s sequel to “War Horse” held the audience spell-bound as we were reminded of how Joey and ‘The Corporal’ went to France during the First World War - in those days horses were needed for the Cavalry, to pull gun carriages, supply carts and ambulances - and what happened when they returned home together.
You can almost smell the new mown hay, hear the horses and see the swallows swooping and diving as the story unfolds about life on a farm in between the wars when tractors were just proving their worth.
A wonderful, nostalgic story – all too soon it was over and time to thank everyone and come home. An excellent show - definitely a 'must' for any fans of “War Horse”.
The play is touring and there are dates across the country.
Next show: Blackpool Grand Theatre tomorrow (Monday) 1.30pm only.
National tour dates can be found here:
http://www.newperspectives.co.uk/event_dates?showid=10
