My Boy Jack

Photos

Cast & Crew

Crew

Director – Elizabeth Callow

Review

NODA

Rudyard Kipling and David Haig [writer] would have approved of and enjoyed Elizabeth Callow’s production of My Boy Jack, which tells the tale of Kipling’s only son being sent off to fight in the trenches in France in World War One.

The attention to detail was apparent in all areas not just the staging and acting performances. The set and costumes too were some of the most exquisite I have seen in some time. The Batemans drawing room was outstanding and having seen the real thing, impressed me greatly down to the very smallest dressing. Martin Beatly, its designer had help from master painter Patrick Tricker and friends to make it look incredibly realistic. Muriel Lister and her stage management team ensured that scene changes were slick and effortless transforming and transporting us to the trenches of the Western Front in moments.

It must have been the inspiration for the cast of eleven as each and every performance was noteworthy in its unique and deft delivery. Every character had depth and breadth belying the tender years of some of the principal troupe. Jacob Carter as John Kipling was particularly striking and managed to get across the attitudes and behaviour of the time incredibly for someone of 16 living 100 years after the time. Megan Saunders [Elsie] too was an incredibly affectionate sister and the scenes played out between the two of them were as moving as they were captivating. The Irish Guardsmen George Cooper and Keir Gilbert-Halladey helped us to gain some small insight into the frightening prospect of trench warfare.

Adult plaudits must go to Chris Bassett [Rudyard] and Alex Barnett who was an incredibly believable shell shocked Irish Guardsman Michael Bowe. However for me it was Ghislaine Bowden as Carrie Kipling, with her broad and totally accurate turn of the century US accent, that stood out for me as her emotional responses were just incredible

Lance Milton

SIGRID SHERRELL

“Outstanding is the only way to describe the Oxted Players production  of David Haig’s poignant play My Boy Jack at The Barn Theatre recently. The whole cast was superb and the remarkable sets gave the play a  realism seldom found on the amateur stage.
Staged by the Players in commemoration of the start of World War One,  My Boy Jack tells the story of Rudyard Kipling’s support and  encouragement for his son John to enlist despite his acute myopia as  well as the aftermath of that fateful decision.John and his platoon of Irish Guards were sent to Loos in France and  tragically he was pronounced missing in September 1915. Chris Bassett was outstanding in the challenging role of Rudyard  Kipling, instilling the character with a touching vulnerability. Jacob  Carter must also be congratulated for his portrayal of John Kipling,  even managing to bring some humour into such a sad tale, and Megan  Saunders was equally good as his sister Elsie. Both of the young  actors were totally convincing in their roles, as was Ghislaine Bowden  as their heart-broken mother Carrie. The set designer Martin Beatty and his set builders really excelled   themselves with this production, recreating a comfortable and true to  life looking sitting room at Bateman’s and the chillingly realistic  trenches complete with ear splitting sounds of shelling and gunfire.The battlefield scenes were at once heart-wrenching and terrifying  with George Cooper, Keir Gilbert-Halladey and Alex Barnett playing  Guardsmen George McHugh, Jimmy Doyle and Michael Bowe frightened out  of their wits at the thought of going over the top.
It’s hard to say watching such a thought provoking play was enjoyable 
but it was very, very good”  – Sigrid Sherrell