A Girl’s Guide to World War, by Kathy Forde and Aleathea Monsour, is a cross between an episode of MASH* and the musical Wicked. As Wicked is a prequel to The Wizard of Oz, GG2WW presents us with the story behind the MAS*H unit concept and a snapshot into the fascinating life of its creator, Dr Agnes Bennett. And while it’s musical, it’s not a musical.
This is a school show on steroids. That’s not a criticism. I’m a bit tired of over-produced, over-engineered, and way overpriced musical extravaganzas that are supposedly “what the people want these days.” Well, not this “people.” This show’s simplicity is its magic.
A cast of only seven exceptionally talented performers, a three-piece band onstage, and an incredibly simple but amazingly versatile and effective set — and that’s it. We’re off on a journey through a piece of history that I was totally unaware of. The story starts in New Zealand but quickly moves to Dr Bennett’s time at the Macedonian Front during WWI. There, as the Chief Medical Officer of the Ostrovo Unit, she meets Dr Lilian Cooper, Josephine Bedford, and the rest of the cast, and follows them as they work with the defeated Third Serbian Army.
I say it’s not a musical because that implies dancing, a chorus of nurses running from tents, and wounded soldiers arising from their beds — all to join in on a sing-song. Which would be totally out of place in this sometimes somber tale. Not that there’s no humour — there are some beautifully funny moments, often delivered with a deft touch by Aleathea Monsour as Dr Bennett.
The songs are a delight, with the beautiful “Purple Tree” a standout. The cast are all talented singers, but rarely did they get to do the musical thing and just stand and have a little sing. The songs were so well worked into the show that they were most often singing while advancing the story. Zoe Georgakis as Josephine Bedford was a standout for me — an amazing voice.
The band were there, but not obtrusive. The set was there, but not obtrusive — except when it had to be. The lady behind me was there, but with a laugh like Fran Drescher from The Nanny, she was obtrusive!
GG2WW, to me, is theatre as it should be. Enjoyable, accessible, intimate — and the fact that you come away knowing something you didn’t know when you went in? Well, that’s a genuine bonus.
A Girl’s Guide to World War is on at the Cremorne Theatre at QPAC.
Review: Mark Chandler