All is Calm just officially opened, and the morning afterward news is that added performances are being made to satisfy public demand. The story concerns a lull in WWI fighting to bring together a front line group of British and German soldiers to celebrate a peaceful Christmas. The musical play as presented by Asolo Rep manages to be both calm and exciting about a historical incident that audiences seem to wish could be a model for our time.
The cast of nine soldiers, including an officer for each of the two groups, prove to be great singers and a cappella, at that. There are 33 songs or selections of songs, most of which are familiar, even classic. Fine arrangements help bring variety to sometimes similar narratives.
Story and time jibe in the song groupings from a Prologue that sets up the singers going to the front to the action that takes place there. After the highlighting of the Christmas date and the actual truce that takes place (with its celebratory drinking as well as singing, back-patting, and hand- shaking), there’s a Return to Battle with an Epilogue. Strangely, the last part is more upbeat than one might expect.
Director Peter Rothstein brings out the soldiers’ emotions well and choreographs their bodily movement effectively. Each scene seems to become more touching. The projected scenery and changes of light and weather enhance the production. Sound is superb. Everyone looks just right from uniforms to hats to hair styles to complexion.
The popularity of Peter Rothstein’s All is Calm over a time on various stages and once in a TV presentation is clearly substantiated in Asolo Rep’s 2024 production.
