Journey's End has conquered theatres world wide with its story of soldiers who stick it out in the First Wold War trenches "because they know it's the only decent thing a man can do". And yet again, David Grindley does not set a foot wrong in his powerful revival of RC Sherriff's 1928 play.

The Oliver-nominated production returned to the West End's New Ambassadors Theatre last week.

Set in a dug-out near St Quentin, northern France, it portrays the uncanny silence of the wait before the last German assault in March 1918. When it finally came, nearly 40,000 men died in a single day.

Not much happens in the first half of the drama. Instead, each character is developed, so that the audience truly cares about their fate when they are ordered to make a suicidal raid across no man's land.

Wry humour over the "oniony" tea and beds without bottoms underlines the deep camaraderie between the men.

Right from its first West End run 76 years ago, Journey's End had a cast of unknowns. The latest production is the professional theatre debut for two of the actors in the lead roles: Ben Righton and Tom Payne.

Righton thunders onto stage as the volatile Captain Stanhope, who has spent three uninterrupted years on the front - more than any man should bear. He drowns his nerves in whiskey, but remains the champion of his men.

Payne shines with youthful enthusiasm as 2nd Lieutenant Raleigh - fresh out of school and still worshipping Stanhope, their former rugger captain. But soon his naivete gives way to shock at war's complete disregard of all that is human.

Former schoolmaster Lieutenant Osborne (Michael Siberry), fondly called "Uncle" by the men, delivers some of the most poignant moments in this supremely well-acted show. His stoic "o, well" when he hears about the raid and the loaded silence as he leaves behind his wedding ring said more than any outburst.

The irrepressibly cheerful Trotter (Roger Walker) and cowardly Hibbert (Jake Harders), who would rather be shot for desertion than take his place in the trenches, also stood out.

Although Journey's End does not openly campaign against war, it captures its waste of human life. From Osborne's reminiscence about the rock garden he built for his wife to the eerie closing scene in front of a marble cenotaph, this play stirs deeply.

Ealing Times - Martina Smit

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