Picture: Ed Felton
The Emu War: A New Musical continues at the Pleasance Courtyard – Pleasance Two until 25 August 2024.
Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
It takes a creative and exploratory mind to pen a play with a strong anti-war theme and find that perfect balance between a serious political message and light-hearted comedy.
Writer Lotte Pearl (music, lyrics and book) together with Toby Little (music) have shaped this potentially serious subject into a fun, comedic musical. Their emotive messaging not only expounds about the futility of any type of conflict but subtlely brings contemporary discussions about conservation, ecology, environment, mental health and LBGTQ+ rights into a story – set in 1932 – without detracting from the historical facts.
Set in the Australian outback this little known, and highly factual, story of First World War veterans tending their crops without the government subsidies they had been promised, and with the impossible challenge of trying to stop the indigenous emus from eating their wheat, is cleverly structured and hugely entertaining.
Utilising sock puppets who pop up like mini Audrey IIs in the most unlikely of places is resourceful ingenuity and Spike Maxwell’s expressive and witty choreography provides the puppets with their own wicked personalities.
The cast comprising Pearl and Maxwell, as well as Lili Mohammad, Ellie Spooner, Alyssa Thabisile Sibanda, Tom Brace-Jenkins and Violet Morris supported by musician Tyler Pringle, is phenomenal.
It’s a story of love, hope, politics and acceptance wrapped up in this absolutely delightful production. With shows like Shucked which enjoyed success on Broadway, The Emu War also proves that what may seem a silly subject can be turned into a meaningful and highly enjoyable show which well deserves its success on the Fringe.
Julie Watterston
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