MUSICAL REVIEW: The Battle of Boat ★★★★

The Battle of Boat
Parabola Arts Centre, Cheltenham
Saturday 15th June 2019

As we open in the summer of 1916 and meet a whole array of young adults and children alike, we are embodied within the small southern town they situated in. This production, originally written for the National Youth Music Theatre by Jenna Donnelly and Ethan Lewis Maltby, charts the tale of a group of 14 - 17 year olds going off to fight for their country in the war and encountering the enemy, whilst at heart being a show full of humour, warmth, and courage, in a show presented by Stagedoor Learning, the BTEC course supported by The Everyman Theatre in Cheltenham, and Virtual Learning UK.

Illegally going off to fight for his country, our protagonist William Miller is portrayed with such conviction from Joseph Stanley. As we interweave within Miller's journey throughout the WWI, Stanley conveys a heightened sense of uncertainty in his voice which mirrors his characters traits, as we hear his letters being sent back to his sister Frances (Izzie Robinson) and girlfriend Sybil Lane (Angel Gale), both beautifully played with sheer expression, especially from Robinson, who visibly is taken aback with raw emotion by time the performance has reached its closure.

Elsewhere, Saskia Clifton stands out amongst the crowd for all the right reasons. Playing what originally is written as a male part, Alice 'Beagle' Grimble, is the comedic role in the production, and suited to perfection with thanks to Clifton. She completely embodies the role through emotion, facial expression, and humour, with such comic timing that is so rarely seen to such an extent on stage. A poignant moment in Act Two where Beagle's guard is let down sent shivers down my spine, and again moments after during an acapella section from the whole company where I was left speechless and shaken, though soon after Clifton manages to banish the captivating moment for a single line and change in tone which sent the audience erupting in the laughter, staying true to her character and the mannerisms in which she possesed.

Whilst the technical aspect lacked vocals on microphones, an uneasy/somewhat out on timed band, and unfocused lighting states, this would have been something that we as the audience would not of been able to tell due to the commitment and compassion each and every actor showed on stage. It's a real testimony to Jenny Cameron's professional attitude and directing experience which has been passed onto her students that just goes to show the unstoppable and fierce nature which they each possess, as they do not let the technical glitches hinder all their hard work which they've carried through so many months to work towards.

This particularly came to focus during the sea scene in which we find the bandit of young teens sailing out to sea on 'Boat', the boat brilliantly named earlier on in the show. The whole company on stage showed true showmanship and in terms of symbolism within the scene, the use of the umbrellas and Union Jack flag was powerful and moving, embracing the strong seas and uncertain fates towards our hero's.

Overall, The Students and Creative Team behind this eerie and powerful version of Donnelly & Maltbys 'The Battle of Boat' deserve such high praise for their commitment, passion and sheer persistence in bringing a show so rarely performed to life on stage in such a professional manner, and as the first end of year musical to star both collective years, it's a triumphant effort from across the whole company.