The discussion around war - especially the two world wars - is usually a very difficult and serious subject. Crizards: This Means War proves that this can still be the case, but it is possible to find humour in a situation, no matter how serious. This lesson can be broadened to apply to any situation, and isn’t that just the peak of British comedy?
The pair's deadpan humour is an immense source of hilarity and general horseplay
Based on his grandfather’s war stories, Crizards: This Means War follows Private Grandad (Eddy Hare) as he tries to deliver a secret message to Major Nice Guy (Will Rowland), meeting all sorts of crazy characters with interesting stories and different hats along the way.
The supportive, yet playful dynamic between Rowland and Hare leads to all sorts of shenanigans onstage. It’s hard to fully describe what happens without giving too much away, but Rowland and Hare’s dynamic is such that whatever role or attitude they are taking on, there is a huge amount of supportiveness that underwrites the show and which allows them to fully showcase their storytelling and comedic abilities. The pair's deadpan humour is an immense source of hilarity and general horseplay. The pair show great commitment to the bit, so any improvisation isn’t obvious and fits in seamlessly with the rest of the show. The songs within This Means War are the best example of the overall ridiculous atmosphere; all of them could easily fit into the 'war song' genre, but the lyrics set them apart by putting the ordinary in an extraordinary situation, a kind of circular jokery that becomes more and more absurd as it continues. What comes out in this show is the celebration of friendship, and the light use of a fictional framework in order to identify and open up about problems.
This show has something for everyone and what we take away from it depends on the individual, it doesn’t force any kind of interpretation on anyone; it can be a silly musical-comedy that has a war aesthetic, or it can be about finding a purpose and doing what you love, or even something else entire. Crizards: This Means War uses comedy to talk about difficult subjects, and leaves us real-life considerations. Because sometimes we just need that outside perspective.
