Private Peaceful

Private Peaceful is a frankly unforgettable play, adapted by Simon Reade from Michael Morpurgo’s novel, about the final moments of Tommo (Anthony Craig), a young soldier in WWI. Craig is astonishing as he monologues the protagonist’s life story. He slips in and out of different characters with remarkable seamlessness, and his precision and range are phenomenal. War stories of this type — about young lads from the fields of England being shipped off to come of age by witnessing death and destruction, etcetera – run the risk of blending into a bland melange of similar tales, but Craig’s performance and the direction from Terence O'Connell seal the play as a tense and suspenseful experience. Maintaining a one-man show for 75 minutes — particularly one that demands this many characters — is a Herculean task, and one which Craig not only manages but excels at. The script, in its depiction of Tommo’s childhood, is charming, tender, and refreshingly idiosyncratic, while its treatment of war is unrelenting and brutal.

While the direction is impeccable, the script is not without its soft spots. These mostly come in the form of hollow moments where an emotion is gestured at, but not quite reached. While the dynamic between Tommo and his older brother comes across as earnest and heartfelt, a love triangle plot is uneven and at times feels predictable and maudlin. The sound design by Justin Gardam also felt like a cheap distraction, particularly when it competed with the dialogue, and particularly so in depictions of the battleground. The clever use of lighting  from Jason Bovaird, as well as the stage design, to gallop through the various settings of Tommo’s life are effective, and the play is elevated into a rich portrait of a life marred by violence. Towards the end, there is a pivotal moment which risks feeling trite, but it’s recouped by a sudden swerve into reality and Craig’s incredible performance. In its impressively maintained tension and powerful sense of heart, Private Peaceful delivers a gripping and compelling theatrical experience.