In the First World War more than 290 soldiers of the British and Commonwealth armies were executed by firing squad, some for desertion and cowardice, two for simply sleeping at their posts. Many of these men we now know were suffering from shell-shock; they deserved treatment, not punishment.
Their fate, and a drive for them to be granted posthumous pardons, is the subject of an ongoing campaign. It is also an obvious subject for drama, but not, perhaps, for a children's book, which is how the script for Private Peaceful, which has just opened at the Trafalgar Studios, originated. (The book, by the Children's Laureate, Michael Morpurgo, has been glowingly reviewed.)
The story is about just one of these soldiers, Private Tommo Peaceful, aged 16. (He lied about his age to join up.) His life snakes through time like the trenches snaked the fields of the Somme.
Alexander Campbell, who is Tommo in this one-man show does, as far as it goes, a fantastic job. In the main, he performs the trick of playing multiple, believable, characters so well that the audience feels there was a cast much bigger than the actual number — one.
But, there are problems with the script, which seem to originate with the nature of its source. This is an excellent story, played superbly well, but seemingly for an audience younger than its main character. They may get a lot from it, but their adult companions may find rather less to satisfy.
What I found most difficult to accept was the idea that this young man, who should have the future at his feet but is instead facing death within hours, could be so happy, and not bitter, at his own needless fate.
The joyous nostalgia that prevails through most of the play does provide some touching and almost Rupert Bear-like moments, however, reminding us of a time when man's flight was romantic, when military pageants were human, and generals had handle-bar mustachios. And the background story of the bond within a loving family, brothers and sisters, and the quiet love of an innocent time, are pleasing in that gentle nostalgic way.
Article comments
1 - Tom
just to put it nicely and carefully it was not tommo put to death it was charlie. Thanks
2 - Bumhole Willy-Nilly Vagina
Crap So Stick It !!
3 - Student
You retards!! both of you are wrong
if u actually payed attention to trhe play u would find out it was not crap and it is tommo who gets executed. he carries charlie back to the camp whilst behind the man charging him with cowardice. he gets charged and waits down the time. he walks off stage in FULL tommo character and you hear a finally gunshot
REATRDS!!!
4 - mike
All of you who said Thomas was the one who got executed are fucking stupid. Get your stories straight first. I just read the damn book and it was Charlie who was tied to a pool and fired at.
5 - N
Can I just say actually your both right. Yep you heard me, both right. In the book it is charlie who is shot for cowardice and Tommo marches off to the Somme. BUT in the play version it is Tommo who is shot in front of a firing squad. I suppose it was done for a more dramtic end to the play. Any way just to solve things
6 - who cares
you all are retards losers
7 - tinaaaa.
tommoo wasnt the one that got executed fukhead..
it was charlie. :)
plus in the book tommo was telling the story so what in the end is he ment to say then uidied the end. :)
is it his ghost talking about him when he was alive ?
ahh noo.
so get your facts rite.
CHARLIE GOT EXECTUTED BY THE FIRING SQUAD.
btw :)
i lvoee the book./movie.
8 - tinaaaa.
+ fuck the theatre shit.
its the book that matters so nerr :P
9 - Jessie x
I am 11 and i am currently doing ESE (extaaSolyeeEnglish)and i am now reading and assesing private peaceful. You should not swear on a page of honour if it wasnt for these brave and amazing men we would not be here. You would not be saying those words on this page. And to be quite honest these theatre companies work hard so maybe you should respect others and treat them the way you want to be treated... Jessica 11
10 - Killalot641
Go jessica :P