A Young World War II Hero
Reviewed by Mary Alderson
I have always thought of Farley Mowat as a big and powerful man. His love and protection of both pets and wildlife, and his endless concern for the environment came across loud and clear. He was a regular guest on both CBC radio and TV, always interesting and outspoken. He was even prevented from entering the United States by US custom officials at Pearson Airport in the 1980s, who labelled him “a subversive and a communist”. Even though that decision was soon reversed, Mowat never travelled to the US again. So, yes, he certainly seemed big, strong, and powerful.
That’s why the play And No Birds Sang, now on the Sculthorpe stage at the Capitol Theatre in Port Hope – Mowat’s home – is so very interesting. In this play about his action in World War II, Mowat is very small and frightened. Yet his bravery, perhaps foreshadowing the man he was to become, is quite evident.
Based on Mowat’s 1979 autobiographical story of his time served in the second world war, And No Birds Sang was adapted for stage by playwright Dave Carley. At the opening of the show, we are told that it was nearly 40 years after his time in the war that Mowat wrote the book, so perhaps things are told not quite as they were. Carley has included information not in the book, making it good theatre.
On stage, we see a young Farley eager to head off to war, but he is turned down for the air force. He applies again, this time for the army, showing his birth certificate, to prove he is older than his sweet baby face and small stature implies. Farley joins the Hastings-Prince Edward Regiment of the Canadian Infantry, affectionately known as the Hasty-Ps.
Aaron Macpherson is perfect as Farley, an eager beaver wanting to prove himself to his father who served in World War I. He is given his father’s army nickname, Squib. (Google tells me squib is a small firecracker or a short, sudden burst of energy: very apt for the young Mowat, as presented by Macpherson.) Macpherson does excellent work in demonstrating the transition of the keen young Mowat to the soldier trying hard to hide his fear which he describes in his journal as a worm, eating away at his gut. Macpherson also handles changing his delivery perfectly, moving from narrator speaking directly to the audience, to character talking to other characters, making it all very natural.
Macpherson is joined in the show by two other brilliant actors, both of whom play several roles as needed to advance the story. Mayson Sonntag plays Farley’s girlfriend Lois, who isn’t going to give him the romantic send-off he’s looking for, in a funny scene. Sonntag also plays Doc, who’s not a doctor, but a British soldier who is assigned as Farley’s and his fellow officer, Jack Kelly’s Batman as punishment for some crime he committed. A batman is a servant, running errands and looking after officers. Doc’s work often veers to the wrong side of legal but he is always there for Farley and Jack.
Jack and many other characters are played by Daniel Reale. As the impulsive Jack, he is a foil for Farley’s thoughtfulness. At the same time, he encourages Farley when fear might have overcome him.
Both Sonntag and Reale create comedy but can also pull the audience’s heartstrings. The beach landing in Sicily is terrifying and sad. But as they take tanks and march through the mountains of the island, there are also flashes of fun.
All three actors demonstrate their musical talent, playing piano and stringed instruments at different times. They are also responsible for adding Foley sound, meaning they create sound effects with the items around them. Strumming a piano wire makes thunder, crumbling crisp paper can create the sound of rain. Other sounds such as gun fire are also made by the actors.
In all, it is an entertaining and illuminating play, reflecting a bygone event. Well written and well cast, it carries the spellbound audience through laughter and tears. It concludes with the famous 1819 poem “La Belle Dame sans Merci” by English Romantic poet John Keats, where Farley Mowat quoted the line, “and no birds sang”.
It certainly strikes me that this would be an excellent companion play to the hit show, Billy Bishop Goes to War, about the WWI Canadian flying ace. It compares quite favourably to that play.
Of course, we are pleased the Capitol in Port Hope was involved in the development and presentation the world premier of And No Birds Sang. Farley Mowat lived in Port Hope for 47 years, calling the town home from 1967 until his death in 2014. I’m glad to have lived in Port Hope for the last six years, bringing my library of Mowat books home. Photo below is just a sample of a few of them.
And No Birds Sang continues on the Sculthorpe Stage at the Capitol Theatre in Port Hope until September 6, 2026. Tickets are available at the box office by calling 905-885-1071 or visiting https://capitoltheatre.com/
Photo: Mayson Sonntag, Aaron Macpherson, and Daniel Reale in And No Birds Sang. Photo by Sam Moffatt.
And No Birds Sang
Based on the autobiographical WWII book by Farley Mowat
Adapted for stage by Dave Carley
Directed by Rob Kempson
Performed by Aaron Macpherson, Mayson Sonntag, Daniel Reale
Sculthorpe Stage, Capitol Theatre, Port Hope
August 14 to September 6, 2026
Reviewed by Mary Alderson