Vanguard Productions presents ALL IS CALM: THE CHRISTMAS TRUCE OF 1914

By Mary Boyle

Last season, a brand new theatre company popped up in Milwaukee called Vanguard Productions.  They staged a reading of  All is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914 by Peter Rothstein, and it was such a hit that they remounted a full production inside the beautiful Calvary Presbyterian Church in Milwaukee for this season.  There are only eight performances and, by the time of this review, there will only be one weekend left.  For those of you looking for a new and moving holiday theatre experience, this is your ticket.

Directed by Joshua Pohja, with music direction by Adam Qutaishat, All is Calm is based on the true story of a Christmas truce between the Germans and English on the frontlines in WWI.  The production is fast-paced, with period music sung by the actors on the stage interspersed with quotes from the actual soldiers who wrote about it in letters home after the event. 

The church makes for a beautiful setting with good acoustics, which is important, because these performers can really sing.   Dan Kerkman, F. Marvin Hannah, Jr., King Hang, Tomás Domínguez, Kai DeRubis, Elliott Brotherhood, Jake Badovski, Joe Picchetti, 
Joe Nolan , Jared Brandt Hoover, and George Lorimer come together in stunning harmony.  Many of these performers were in the original reading by Vanguard.

This story, which tells the tale of men who chose to disobey their commanders, lay down their arms, and celebrate the season for one night; to see each other as fellow human beings and not as enemies or others, is the ultimate example of the spirit of Christmas, of peace on earth, and of goodwill toward men, and it is a story that needs to be told right now.  This production deserves to be a part of the holiday theatre standards in Milwaukee, right along with A Christmas Carol and The Nutcracker ballet, and a yearly production is the goal for Vanguard.  I strongly encourage you to attend All is Calm and to give what you can so we might see it again next year, and for many years to come.

ALL IS CALM: THE CHRISTMAS TRUCE OF 1914 runs through December 10, 2023, at Calvary Presbyterian Church in Milwaukee, located at 935 W. Wisconsin Ave.  Tickets may be purchased online at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/all-is-calm-the-christmas-truce-of-1914-tickets-722955337877.