Destrier

"War Horse" @ The Lyric. Can't compare it to Michael Morpurgo's YA novel or Steven Spielberg's blockbuster as I haven't read/seen those. But as far as stageshows go, it ranks near the top - a beautifully presented, utterly captivating tale of a boy and his horse, family rivalries and the futile hell of WW1. The movements of the lifesize animal puppets are so realistic you soon ignore the presence of their operators. (Expecting animatronics, I'd originally intended to call this post "Clockwork steeds".) Also stylishly simple and simply effective are the pencil-sketch backdrops. The cast, costumes, set design, lighting and comedy goose all deserve a mention. The play's greatest strength, of course, is its universality - neither pro-British nor anti-German, it's about the joy and suffering felt on both sides of any conflict, and the magical bond that can exist betwixt man and beast. Arguably the lone weak element is the folksy songs - mostly unaccompanied, sometimes with accordion/concertina - though they're undoubtedly appropriate to the setting, and they may hold more meaning for you than they did me. Regardless of that gripe, I highly recommend catching "War Horse". And if you find yourself a bit weepy at the intermission or conclusion, make a beeline for the bar, where there are containers of black napkins :-)