Among my earliest memories are news pictures of shaven-headed French girls, disgraced for collaborating with the Germans.

Fifty years on, as part of the anniversary victory celebrations, a brilliant French company performs the history of the war in France as cabaret, with song, dance and mime, in a production reminiscent of the original Oh! What a Lovely War.

Like Joan Little wood’s show, this bought tears to the cheek, while entertaining, with no ‘Allo ‘Allo vulgarity.

France’s shameful capitulation was represented by rival Marriannes, Marrianne of Paris and Marrianne of Vichy. Symbols were graphic and powerful. The show does not conceal the seamy side of the Resistance, either.

The company perform with immense verve and minimal props, used with dazzling versatility. The first night was performed in French, but rantings against gypsies, homosexuals, Jews, Communists, the unemployed and anarchists sent chills down the spine.

Most of the cast adapted their speed of speech to our English ears but, my aural French being less than perfect, I dutifully turned up on the second night to cover the promised English translation, which was abandoned at the last minute, and decided to watch the French version again and managed to follow a little more. It didn’t matter too much.

Part of the Kirin International Arts Festival at the Junction, mainly a rock venue, this show is physical theatre with a strong moral and political charge. It deserves a wider audience.

So strong is the ensemble that to mention any one performer seems unfair, but Laure Smajda is a dancer who can sing, mime and act. The writer and director is Julia Pascal. Bravo!

Valerie Grosvenor Myer
The Stage
17 August 1994