It can sometimes be easy to forget the real people behind all the statistics and numbers. Charles Sorley was killed in action when he was just twenty years old. With VE Day having just passed not so long ago, it is important to remember the times of the devastating World Wars and keep the memory of soldiers alive.
This drama was written by Neil McPherson and directed by Max Key. The play told the tragic story of Aberdeen born, Charles Hamilton Sorley who was killed in action during the First World War. Sorley was studying in Germany when the war commenced and was temporarily imprisoned as an enemy alien. He was one of the first to join the army in 1914. His letters and poems were only what his parents had left to remember him by. Back then, there wasn’t the instant and technological communication we have now. Borrowing the words of Sorley’s vivid writings and combining this with songs from the period, “It Is Easy To Be Dead” was a theatrical biography of his brief life filled with hope, joy, and potential for the future. A personal timeline cut short by the futility and horrors of war.
The cast, in order of appearance were: Elizabeth Rossiter as the Pianist, Hugh Benson as the Singer, Tom Marshall played the father called William, Jenny Lee portrayed the mother named Janet, and Charles was played by Alexander Knox. Knox’s performance as Charles Sorley brought out his youthful sense of adventure with a subtle naivety. This characterisation was rather repetitive though throughout the first half. The other aspects to Sorley’s personality were revealed later in the second half when he was thrown right into battle as “cannon fodder” in the trenches. Another side to Sorley was also shown in one scene when Sorley interacted with his parents, William and Janet. It was clear that the two men refused to display too much emotion and maintain the British “stiff upper lip”. Most of the time, Knox broke the fourth wall and narrated the story as Sorley, communicating the facts and events that took place. But, all this left more to be desired regarding further exploration of the personal relationship with his parents and the nature of his friendships with fellow comrades.
On the other hand, I liked how McPherson played with the presentation of the poetry and letters. In addition, Key had acknowledged the small size of the set and the intimacy of the auditorium and used that to his advantage. Rather than attempting to re-create the vast scale of a terrifying and ear-splitting battlefield, Key placed an emphasis on the visual and auditory production elements to transport us to No Man’s Land in our imaginations. I couldn’t experience the intimacy of the space myself because I was watching this on YouTube, however I could only imagine this would have enhanced the experience, perhaps making it more immersive. The close proximity of Sorley to his mother and father onstage, despite being in two contrasting locations, really hit home the brutal reality of the separation and constant worrying. On a separate note, the filming of the production could have been smoother, at one point the camera panned to the right rather haphazardly.
Designer, Phil Lindley had constructed a cosy Study Room set full of little details completing the World War One period aesthetic. The set included: a desk, a book shelf with precariously stacked books, and a stained glass window. It was gorgeously lit with nuanced, bright, and naturalistic lighting but expectedly everything was darker in the second half. This was when Rob Mills’ video designs and projection could, quite literally, have the time to shine when the war time footage was projected; showing troops marching and bombs exploding. “Pack Up Your Troubles” is a catchy and classic war time song which appropriately featured mid-way through. Sound Designer, Nathan Hamilton did a tremendous job of recreating the petrifying and cacophonous sounds of war.
In conclusion: “It Is Easy To Be Dead” was educational, perceptive, and well done. This production is ideal for anyone studying History or English Literature. It was a story about growing up, experiencing traumatic times, and asking ourselves: “Why did they have to die?”
Reviewer - Sam Lowe
on - 37/5/20
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