Oh, What a Lovely War, Castle Street Centre, Kendal

Kendal Community Theatre took on a mighty challenge with this show. I imagine almost as courageous a decision to stage as when Joan Littlewood’s radical Theatre Workshop put on the unconventional production way back in 1963.

It had great rhythm from the outset swept along by striped blazer-and-boater-clad Graham Edwards who did a sterling job as MC.

The show is a moving and funny evocation of the tragedy and pathos of one the most horrendous conflicts in history.

Stirring and satirical, the action opens in 1914 and Europe is on the brink of war. Your country needs you, so enlist today came the call - and thousands did, unaware of the horrors just around the corner.

From the optimism of the Home Front to the death and destruction on the fields of Flanders, all are brought to life through an armoury of songs. However, at same time the musical deftly puts the deceit, duplicity, political mistakes and futility of the whole of the Great War in the spotlight. The scene which featured the millionaire industrialists was particularly well worked showing another dark and dubious side to war and how there are those who capitalise on the suffering of others. Profits before people!

A massive, exhausting, ensemble piece, there were many individual triumphs: it was good to see Tony Kelly back on stage in top form, Gordon Lawson hammed it up perfectly, Stephen Lockwood and Lynne Gibbons were on song, Karen Tredwell displayed her vocal and balletic versatility and Stella Coxon showed how good she is as both actor and singer.

And the images projected on to a screen just above the stage helped drive the narrative.

The cast - under the direction of Chris Taylor and Judith Notley - must have worked their socks off.

All involved made a major contribution - actors, musicians, design, technical and front of house staff.

For me though, the second half lost momentum. The atmosphere of the musical changed and with it became a little fragmented and less lively, the latter maybe due to the brutality of the First World World becoming more apparent as the production approaches 1918.

Nevertheless, it didn’t spoil a memorable entertainment.

KCT’s show had plenty of heart and soul and bags of spirit.

Exactly what community theatre is all about.

Adrian Mullen