When War Horse's equines gallop across the stage, or trot back and forth with grown men on their backs, it can take a little brainpower to remember that they're not actually real.
The creators of the Tony Award-winning extravaganza — which kicks off its Vancouver engagement on September 24 — have employed an array of theatrical tricks to bring the play's non-human characters to life. In some cases, this has meant transforming stage actors with zero puppet experience into expert puppeteers.
One such performer is Mairi Babb. The Saanich native was last seen locally in 2010's Brief Encounter. Babb possessed a long acting résumé — but little knowledge of puppetry — when, in 2011, she was cast in War Horse's Toronto production — and that's precisely how producers like it, she says.
"They want everyone to start from scratch and end up with the same aesthetic and approach", said Babb on the phone from Edmonton, where the touring company was setting up. "Learning the language of puppetry has been one of the most challenging and rewarding things I've ever done."
Babb is one of three puppeteers who bring the foal version of the titular horse to life on stage each night. Together, the trio maneuvers the puppet's hind, heart, and head, all the while dressed in costumes representative of the early 20th century. "They try to blend us into the puppet, but they don't try to hide us," said Babb. "Their idea is that eventually we'll just disappear anyway, so they don't need to put us in black body suits."
Even after two years in the role, Babb said she's still in awe of the horse puppets, the brainchildren of South Africa's Handspring Theatre Company. Constructed from leather, steel, and aircraft cables, many of the puppets weigh in excess of 120 pounds; the larger puppets are able to carry 170-pound riders.
Based on the 1982 novel by Michael Morpurgo, War Horse explores the relationship between a young man and his horse, set largely amidst the carnage and chaos of the First World War.
"It's such an important story," said Babb. "I still get chills when I think about how two years later I'm still doing this show and it's as exciting and powerful as it was the first day of rehearsal."
War Horse is a production of the National Theatre of Great Britain. Its at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre from Sept. 24-29.
