A Miracle in No Man's Land
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Play Synopsis
A soldier on the Western Front accused of desertion claims a vision of Christ commanded him to lay down his arms and abandon the war... Joseph Taylor, an army deserter during the First World War is ridiculed when he tells his court martial that a vision of Jesus Christ caused him to walk from the foul carnage of the battlefield. His chaplain, Captain Simpson believes him however and eagerly defends him with the result that Taylor is miraculously spared the death sentence, but as Simpson discovers, Taylor is not the innocent he seems. A play that is dramatic and moving, both about the brutalities of war and the nature of faith - contributing to the debate on pardons for deserters and the effects of prolonged battle on the health of ordinary soldiers, that is sadly still something of an issue today.Radio play and unproduced stage play - Radio 4, 15.12.97. Repeat, Radio 7, December 2006.
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Reviews
Play Reviews:
Radio Times - Radio Choice Accused of desertion on the Western Front in 1917. Joseph Taylor faces a mandatory death sentence. But at his court martial, he claims he was commanded to lay down his arms after seeing a vision of Jesus Christ in no-man's land. The drama's author, Alex Jones stars as the accused man. Daily Mail - Radio Choice: Loosely speaking, Alex Jones's A Miracle In No Man's Land is a Christmas play, because it is set on the Western Front in December 1917 when carols softened the rattle of the machine guns. Jones himself plays the army volunteer accused of desertion after claiming that he met Christ on the battlefield and was commanded by him to lay down his arms - a super performance in a super play, I don't believe Sue Wilson's direction has been equalled in radio drama during 1997. Peter Davalle The Express - Radio choice Alex Jones's play about a deserter who claims to have seen Christ on the First World War battlefield starts slowly, but builds to a compulsive drama about faith and killing from a soldier's point of view. The Stage - Radio Choice The nature of theological belief versus the acrid stench of war was powerfully examined in A Miracle In No Man's Land for Radio 4. Alex Jones co-starred with Christopher Scott. The Guardian - Radio Choice: It's hard to understand Radio 4's decision to abandon 90 minute dramas. What, after next spring, will the network do with splendid productions like Alex Jones's A Miracle In No Man's Land? The author plays the war-weary First World War private who tells a disbelieving court martial he deserted because Christ appeared on the battlefield bidding him stop the war. The text brilliantly captures the mood of the period and the performances are first-rate. - Harold Jackson. Daily Telegraph - Radio Choice: Just before Christmas on the Western Front in 1917, Captain Simpson (Christopher Scott) is ordered to defend Joseph Taylor (Alex Jones) a Black Country soldier who says he's had a vision of Christ bidding him to lay down his arms. The court martial doesn't believe him. But a miracle has happened. - Gillian Reynolds. Daily Mail Weekend - Radio Choice: When a World War 1 deserter claims divine guidance, is it A Miracle In No Man's Land? Alex Jones's Monday Play contributes to the debate on pardons for deserters. * Recommended. - LO'C. The Observer - Radio choice: In The Monday Play - A Miracle In No Man's Land, Joseph Taylor, an army deserter during the First World War, is ridiculed when he tells his court martial that a vision of Jesus Christ caused him to walk away from the foul carnage of the battlefield. His chaplain, Captain Simpson (Christopher Scott) believes him however and eagerly defends him with the result that Taylor is 'miraculously' spared the death sentence, but Simpson eventually discovers, Taylor (Alex Jones, who also wrote the play), is not the innocent he seems. - Stephanie Billen. A sample call from BBC Daily Log - Re. A Miracle In No Man's Land: "Absolutely superb. The best thing I've heard in years." - Mr. Penton, Poole.Radio 4, 15.12.97. Repeat, Radio 7, December 06.
