OUR FRIENDS THE ENEMY

OUR FRIENDS THE ENEMY

The Lion Theatre
410 West 42nd St..
NY NY 10036

8-20 November 2015

Written and Performed by: Alex Gwyther
Directed by: Tom O’Brien

“War. What is it good for? Absolutely NOTHIN’!” sang the Temptations. The stupidity of war and The Great War (aka World War I) in particular is beautifully exposed in this moving tribute to the Christmas Truce of 1914.

On the freezing winter fields of France, German and British soldiers, equally miserable, found themselves reaching out to their enemies in the spirit of Christmas. It is a testament to the hearts of the young men on both sides of the fight.

Playwright and performer Alex Gwyther is extraordinary. He transitions smoothly from character to character, never losing the pace of the narration. He sees things so vividly, you would swear you saw them, too, from the muddy charnel full of frozen bodies, to the Christmas tree alight with candles, and to the tentative playfulness of young men unable to resist a soccer ball.

OUR FRIENDS THE ENEMY is a touching piece that makes a perfect counterpoint to the sticky-sweet Nutcrackers and Hallmark movies that usually fill the holidays.

- Jean Tait -