A Haunting Reminder of Humanity Amidst the Horror of War
The stage is set. Dim lighting reveals a trio of actors, their voices weaving through the silence, bringing to life the unsettling reality of World War I. This is not your typical wartime narrative. “All is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914,” at N.C. Stage Company through December 22nd, eschews the noise of battle for the poignant stillness of reflection.
Voices Across Time
For just over an hour, Playwright Peter Rothstein transports audiences straight into the trenches, utilizing the soldiers’ own words to detail a pivotal moment in history: the Christmas Truce of 1914. The moving experience feels less like voyeurism and more like bearing witness to history, honored by the actors. Actors Steve McConnell, Adam Kampouris, and Willie Repoley embody various nationalities with masterful accents. Their performance isn’t simply about delivering lines; it’s a nuanced delivery of story and emotion.
More Than Words: The Chorus of Humanity
But the full impact of “All is Calm” comes from the chorus of nine men who provide palpable context through soaring a cappella renditions of wartime favorites like “It’s a Long Way to Tipperary” and “Pack Up Your Troubles in Your Old Kit Bag.”
The somber reality of young men believing this conflict would be over by Christmas 1914 is heavy as the music reverberates throughout the theater.
Each member of the chorus – Richard Blue, Gabriel Coll-Battencourt, John Hall, W.A. Lampley, Glenn Lawson, David Leader, Mark Lieberman, Jonathan Ross, and Nick Toner – brings their own charisma to the stage.
The Simple Genius of Performance and Design
Director Charlie Flynn-McIver ensures an experience that transcends a traditional play format. Images projected on a rear-stage screen and hauntingly beautiful music, designed by Simone Bernhard, create an immersive atmosphere. The effect is similar to Peter Jackson’s “They Shall Not Grow Old,” which brilliantly humanized World War I veterans through colorized footage and archived interviews. However, “All is Calm” elevates the power of individual stories through theatricality. The audience sees faces, feels emotions transition across stages. These are not just names on casualty lists – they are men stripped bare of identity by conflict.
A Solace in No Man’s Land
The brilliance of the Christmas Eve scene is undeniable. For a brief, tear-jerking moment, enemies clad in front-line belongings become fellow human beings, exchanging greetings and songs.
Bake,
imagine: bowls of battlefield camaraderie replace the frenzied brutality of war.国 singing carols in various languages, a glimpse of humanity during a
temporary suspension of hostilities. As the show progresses, inevitably, fighting resumes. It’s a clear reminder of the fragility of peace and the duality that defines humanity.
“All is Calm” is not just a performance – it’s an experience, one that stays with you long after the curtain falls. You’ll leave theatergoers changed – perhaps a little bruised by the experience, yet also profoundly more thoughtful about the cost of conflict.
What: All is Calm: The Christmas Truce
How can incorporating diverse perspectives, such as those of soldiers from different nationalities involved in the Christmas Truce, enhance the audience’s understanding of the event’s significance?
## A Haunting Reminder of Humanity: Interview with [Name, Role]
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us today to discuss the powerful production of “All is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914” currently running at N.C. Stage Company. This isn’t your typical war story, is it?
**Alex Reed:** No, it’s truly something unique. “All is Calm” focuses on a moment of peace and humanity amidst the horrors of World War I, the Christmas Truce of 1914. [[1](https://www.rcreader.com/theater/all-is-calm-christmas-truce-black-box-dec13-22)]
**Interviewer:** Tell us more about how the play portrays this historical event.
**Alex Reed:** Playwright Peter Rothstein uses the actual words of the soldiers involved, drawing audiences directly into the trenches. The three main actors, Steve McConnell, Adam Kampouris, and Willie Repoley, deliver these words with incredible nuance and emotion, truly embodying the different nationalities present. [[1](https://www.rcreader.com/theater/all-is-calm-christmas-truce-black-box-dec13-22)]
**Interviewer:** And the music plays a crucial role as well, doesn’t it?
**Alex Reed:** Absolutely. A chorus of nine men provides a haunting backdrop through a cappella renditions of wartime songs like “It’s a Long Way to Tipperary.” The songs highlight the grim reality these young men faced, believing the conflict would be over by Christmas. It’s a powerful experience.
**Interviewer:** Why do you think this story resonates so strongly with audiences today?
**Alex Reed:** I think it serves as a powerful reminder of our shared humanity. Even in the midst of conflict, the desire for peace and connection can prevail. It’s a story that challenges us to remember the cost of war and to hold onto hope for a better future.
