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Lotty’s War- Northcott Theatre, Exeter

February 8, 2015 by Laurel Bibby Leave a Comment

Review of: Lotty's War
Produced by:
Yvonne Arnaud Theatre & Lotty's War Ltd
Price:
£27, £24.50, £22.50 or £18.50 / £2 off Concessions

Reviewed by: Laurel Bibby
Rating:
5
On February 8, 2015
Last modified:February 14, 2015

Summary:

A wartime thriller based on a true story, set during the German occupation of Guernsey, Channel Islands, in WWII.

More Details

Powerful stories are retold in Lotty’s War, written by Giuliano Crispini and set during the German occupation of Guernsey, Channel Islands, in WWII. From childish playfulness and romance to dramatic changes in pace, tension and emotion, Lotty’s War tackles themes such as loyalty and betrayal while considering the trials of growing up in a world encapsulated by the harsh realities of war. As a Guernsey local myself, I found this production particularly poignant, as Lotty experienced many things that I’ve grown up hearing about from older generations.

Lottys_War_Exeter_710x240_copy_v2_53e4a03ed920b

The play focuses on the relationship between Lotty and General Bernberg – a German officer played with great expertise by Mark Letheren – with whom she is forced to share her house. An immediately curt relationship was established between the two and I failed to see how this would change, but the actors worked together skilfully to gradually evolve the relationship. From slight alterations in conversation to sudden plot twists, the chemistry between the two created an interesting dynamic which sustained the play throughout.

Olivia Hallinan gave a stunning performance as Lotty, a headstrong whirlwind of emotion, portraying her journey from an innocent youngster to a worn-down, troubled woman with immense talent. Her tearful monologue in the only ‘outdoor’ scene of the production stood out for me as one of the most striking moments in the play, delivered which such raw emotion that I truly felt her pain.

With so many unexpected twists and turns, it was impossible to be bored for even a second in this slick production; the cast were a well-oiled machine. Aside from the superb performances, it was the technical detail that made this piece so outstanding. The use of an old radio added both music and news clips, creating moments of high tension as well as a true sense of realism. Meanwhile, the set was beautifully designed to recreate an immeasurably detailed Guernsey house, while flickering lights and dark shadows established a permanent sense of unease.

The production eventually comes full circle in the final scene, with Lotty and Ben (convincingly played by Adam Gillen) reuniting once more and speaking their secret childhood language as they had done in the opening scene. As Lotty drew the scene to a close singing “Sarnia Cherie”, the anthem of Guernsey, I knew that this would stay with me for a long time. “This is my home”, she cried. Mine too, Lotty. Mine too.

Lotty’s War ran on tour from 3rd September until 15th November. Further information regarding the play can be found at http://www.lottyswar.com

CAST AND CREW

Writer: Giuliano Crispini

Dramaturge: Clare Slater

Director: Bruce Guthrie

Designer: Victoria Spearing

Lighting Designer: Elanor Higgins

Costume & Props Designer: Suzie Tidy

Sound Designer: Mike Walker

Movement Director: Lee Proud

Fight Director: Kevin McCurdy

Vocal Coach: Terry Besson

Guernsey Patois Translator: Hazel Tomlinson

Guernsey Patois Linguis: Cynthia Lenormand

Producer: Yvonne Arnaud Theatre & Lotty’s War Ltd

Associate Producer: Jamie Chapman Dixon

PR: Sue Hyman

Casting: Annie Rowe

Company Stage Manager: Stephen Harrison

Deputy Stage Manager: Anna Sheard

Cast: Mark Letheren, Olivia Hallinan, Adam Gillen

Laurel Bibby

Author: Laurel Bibby

T: Twitter

Filed Under: Review Tagged With: Bruce Guthrie, Giuliano Crispini, Lotty's War, Northcott Theatre

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  • Laurel Bibby

    Laurel Bibby
    Contributor

  • February 8th, 2015
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