Billy Bishop Goes to War: Not simply a replay of the Peterson version, a credit to actor Chris Ralph

Chris Ralph as Billy Bishop. Photo: Andrew Alexander

Billy Bishop shot down a record 72 enemy planes in the First World War. John Gray’s show about the fighter pilot’s exploits has the distinction of being one of the most produced works in Canadian theatre history since its premiere 35 years ago.

The story of how the worst cadet at the Royal Military College in Kingston became a war hero resonates in part because Billy Bishop started off as such unlikely material to be destined for stardom.

In the original stage version, the movie and a recent revival (with revisions) Eric Peterson played Billy and the numerous other characters, male and female, that he converses with through the narrative, while Gray accompanied him on the piano. Because Billy Bishop Goes to War has been so closely identified with its originators, it has been difficult for other performers to ring many changes with the view of the scrappy pilot from Owen Sound.

It is therefore to actor Chris Ralph’s credit that in the Plosive Productions presentation of this memory play, which opened on February 8, his Billy Bishop is not simply a Peterson replay.

While it is unfortunate that neither he nor accompanist James Caswell are strong singers and, as directed by Teri Loretto-Valentik, the heavy reliance on one wooden chair becomes a little tiresome, Billy Bishop Goes to War remains a compelling and often insightful narrative about the vagaries of wartime (as well as social class and colonialism).

This Plosive Production of Billy Bishop Goes to War continues at the Gladstone Theatre to February 23.

Written and composed by John Gray in collaboration with Eric Peterson

Director: Teri Loretto-Valentik

Sound: Ryan Acheson

Lighting: David Magladry

Cast:

Billy Bishop………………………………………Chris Ralph

Narrator/Pianist……………………………………James Caswell