The voices of the past whisper to us.
They have stories to tell.
All is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914 at Rosebud Theatre is a deeply moving and memorable production. The story is brought to life by a wonderful ensemble and is partly told through the use of letters home from the soldiers who found themselves spending that first Christmas in the trenches. Many of those soldiers thought the war would be over by Christmas but tragically the war continued for another four years and didn’t end until November 11, 1918.
In addition to the letters home much of the play consists of songs including classic Christmas Carols like We Wish You a Merry Christmas and The First Noel along with many contemporary songs of the day including It’s a Long Way to Tipperary and Keep the Homefires Burning. Playwright Peter Rothstein has weaved together the music and the words of these soldiers in a way that from the first moments of the play to the final scene keeps us fully immersed in this tragic but humanizing war story.
All is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914 tells the story of a brief pause in the fighting during World War I. The Germans and the English sang carols and songs to each other and on Christmas day the soldiers feeling a sense of connection eventually left their trenches and met in no man’s land – the killing field between the trenches. On that first Christmas, they sang songs. They exchanged gifts. They played soccer. They buried their dead. And they wondered what the hell were they doing there trying to kill each other. Of course, the truce ended, and the war continued, and millions would die. But for a moment — there was hope.
Morris Ertman’s direction is flawless as the soldiers interact and tell their stories and there are moments of laughter, moments of faith, moments of grief, and moments of hope. It shows how powerful theatre can be. That’s one of the reasons why we go to the theatre – to experience the emotion of the story. To identify with the characters and understand something more about life and hopefully, we come away feeling a little more connected to our shared humanity.
In no small measure the costumes and setting also add to the experience but what I found particularly moving and worth noting is the musical direction by Bill Hamm because it’s the harmonies of this extraordinary cast that conveys so much of the story. Since the play is giving voice to the words and thoughts of those soldiers long dead having the music performed a cappella really draws us in and connects us to those men whose words are being brought back to life.
So, did I like it? I loved it and not just the play, but I loved the whole experience of going out to Rosebud to see the show. Rosebud has become a favourite destination and a place where good memories are made. A big part of going to the theatre is about who you share the play with – the person sitting beside you – that’s the real joy of seeing a show together. The shared experience with someone you care about and who cares about you. Yes, a live audience adds to the experience but when I think of theatre now it’s all about who I see the show with, and I was fortunate enough to see All Is Calm with my son Graham who also enjoyed the show and the meal very much.
You see Rosebud includes the drive out and the meal and then the show and the drive home. It’s a chance to step away from your routine and to make a good memory and enjoy some of that good old-fashioned Rosebud hospitality which includes Chef Mo’s absolutely delicious buffet. It’s really about taking some time to share a meaningful experience and enjoy each other’s company and to connect and when you see a show as meaningful and memorable as All is Calm it just makes the experience all the more special.
All is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914 runs until Saturday, December 23rd. Tickets are available at RosebudTheartre.com or by calling the box office at 1-800-267-7553. The show runs for approximately 70 minutes without intermission.
All is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914
Written by Peter Rothstein
Vocal Arrangements by Erick Lichte & Timothy C. Takach
Ensemble
Joel Braun
Griffin Cork
Tim Dixon
Mark Kazakov
Aaron Krogman
Steve Morton
Kenaniah Love Schnare
Blair Young
Understudies
Taylor Fawcett
Caleb Gordon
Dan Hall
Bill Hamm
Artistic Personnel
Director: Morris Ertman
Musical Director: Bill Hamm
Original Scenic/Costume Designer: Carolyn Rapanos
Lighting Designer: Becky Halterman
Stage Manager: Samantha Showalter
Assistant Stage Manager: Christopher Allan
Rehearsal Pianist: Terrah Harper
Production Personnel
Production Manager/Technical Director: Mark Lewandowski
Production Stage Manager: Brad G. Graham
Head of Wardrobe: Amy Castro
Hair: Tracy’s Place Salon Studio
Scenic Carpenter: Wojtek Kozlinski
Scenic Artist: Cheryl Daugherty
Props Builder/Buyer: Brad G. Graham
Load-in/Lighting Crew: Cory Eliuk, Josie Kaip, Kalena Lewandowski, John McIver
Student/Volunteer Crew: Katie Corrigan, Connor Dixon, Joshua Erhardt, Immaneul Halterman, Jack Loney, Kaila Martin
