Review: The Trench Pleasance Courtyard (venue 33)
Star rating: * * *
But while The Trench is visually striking, a number of theatrical decisions taken by the company lessen the emotional impact this show could and should have.
The lead character, Bert, has a tragic story all of his own. Yet the poetic language he uses to convey his tale is spoken in the third person, and his delivery starts at a high level and stays there, with no shades of light and dark. Sadness needs the counterbalance of prior happiness to hit home, but little is made of Bert’s back-story or camaraderie with fellow soldiers.
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Hide AdWhat does work well is the staging; in particular, a scene where Bert traverses a field filled with dead and dying men is powerful and innovative. So, too, is the beautiful shadow puppetry, but ultimately The Trench feels like a triumph of style over content.
Until 27 August. Today 1:10pm.