REVIEW: A fascinating and deeply moving drama about men at war

In the hustle and bustle of the modern world it’s easy to forget how good we have it. After all, there are traffic jams, high rents, giant workloads and growing concerns about disconnected politicians.

We deal with a lot on a daily basis and then, when we try to relax at home, we turn on the TV and the news shows us all the other bad things that have happened in the world.

It often doesn’t seem like we’re living the good life but, believe me, we are.

Anyone who doubts this should watch Journey’s End by RC Sherriff, which is on at The Archway, Horley, until April 9.

The play is about a group of British army officers living in front-line trenches during the First World War, just before Germany’s 1918 spring offensive. Raleigh, a young officer straight out of school, joins the company, looking forward to seeing his old friend Captain Stanhope again. However, war has changed Stanhope, who has hit the bottle to cope with the strain.

This is a story of men pushed to the limit by constant danger and the looming spectre of death and Ben Andrew brings Stanhope to life beautifully. I’ve been impressed by this young actor’s Archway performances in several previous shows, but I think this is his best work to date. He portrays a young man who is old beyond his years. Short-tempered, bitter and scared, Stanhope keeps himself together most of the time, but flashes of emotion and terror escape, and Ben is very skilled at revealing his character’s inner conflict.

Meanwhile, Stuart Finlayson, shows the effects of war on a weaker man as Hibbert, realistically demonstrating what it looks like when all this panic comes to the surface.