Herefordshire | Archive | 2003 | October | 2
From the archive, first published Thursday 2nd Oct 2003.
As Serjeant Musgrave's men march in Cheltenham this week, John Arden's play has never felt more timely.
One of the most important playwrights of the 20th century...(yet) never enjoying the high box office profile accorded to some writers', the poor audience numbers that The Everyman has attracted should - maybe - come as no surprise.
It still comes as a disappointment. Serjeant Musgrave's Dance is a stark piece, but are we so unaccustomed to being challenged these days that we'd rather stay away?
The Oxford Stage Company, touring the piece for the first time in 20 years, deserve better. A fine cast played undeterred to an appreciative audience on Tuesday night.
Written in 1959, the story explores war-weariness among British troops during the 19th century. Few periods of British history can match up to the 1800s for relentless conflict when The Empire was at its height.
Arden brings war home to a small colliery town where agitators are causing some anarchy of their own. The townsfolk assume that the soldiers are here to `settle things'; the upper classes that they will recruit (by force if necessary).
A predominantly male cast is well matched by the two female actors - both very strong. David Hollett as pugnacious collier and Edward Peel as the Serjeant give resonance to the strong, political message. God, reason, materiality - what do you put your name to? JH
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