Gareth's Culture and Travel Blog

It’s very hard to write about this extraordinary, captivating piece by Rita Kalnejais. It defies both categorisation and description, but I’ll try…..

Set near Chartres, France towards the end of the Second World War, it tells the story of the love at first sight between young German soldier Otto and local girl Elodie. Otto believes everything he’s been told about ‘Mr. Hitler’ and the objectives and progress of the war. He’s expecting to begin an invasion of England at dawn, when in reality the allies are in the process of liberating France. This contrasts with his naivety and charming innocence wooing Elodie. She too is naive and innocent and, well, charming, but they both get a dose of reality, when Otto finds he’s missed the retreat rather than the invasion and Elodie realises there will be consequences to befriending a Nazi. An intimate love story against a backdrop of war.

Whilst the story is being played out on a turfed stage representing their secret isolated spot, there are two adults in karaoke boxes with microphones and headphones who sing songs and occasionally read lines from a video screen, before they join the youngsters at the conclusion. Perhaps they represent those who were once lovers like Otto and Elodie? Their presence is incongruous but fascinating. Their songs are current pop tunes, as contemporary as the language and behaviour of the teenagers. The quirkiness, the surprise, the ambiguity is all part of this charming cocktail.

Cecile Tremolieres’ design looks beautiful and Jay Miller’s staging is delicate. Bradley Hall and Hannah Millward are delightful as the young couple. I couldn’t take my eyes off the stage for its 70 minutes running time. Take a chance on it if you can get a ticket in this extra, final week.