Oh What a Lovely War: dramatic climax

The Dramatic Climax

The dramatic climax in “Oh What a Lovely War” is complex because the play does not follow a linear narrative with a single overarching storyline. Instead, the play is structured as a series of isolated yet interlinked scenes.
One potential dramatic climax could be seen in the scene of the Christmas Truce. Here, the absurdity of the war becomes painfully evident as soldiers from opposing sides momentarily stop fighting to celebrate Christmas. This poignant scene underscores the humanity of the soldiers, contrasting starkly with the faceless bureaucracy of war.
The musical number “And When They Ask Us” at the end can also be viewed as a climax. It points out the futility of the war, vividly displaying the huge cost of human lives, and forces both characters and the audience to reflect on the senselessness of the conflict.
Each scene that reveals the escalating casualty numbers can also be seen as a series of climaxes, visually and emotionally hitting the audience with the grim reality of war.
The consistent performance of pierrot clown figures throughout the play, despite the horrors unfolding around them, sharply highlights the ongoing reality amidst the chaos. This can be considered a recurring dramatic climax staged continuously in the background.

The dramatic climaxes in “Oh What a Lovely War” are integral for jolting the audience into an awareness of the war’s catastrophic impact, moving past the light-hearted satire and songs to create a deeper emotional connection.
The multiple climaxes help to critique the propagandised image of war, shattering the illusions of glory and gallantry, and exposing the harsh brutalities and bureaucratic indifference.
The climaxes also serve to underline the vast scale and duration of the war, with audience continuously confronted with the rising casualty numbers, adding a layer of sober reality to the satirical depiction of war events.
The shift in tone during climactic scenes, from lighthearted to serious and sombre, is key for dramatising the jarring dissonance between the cheerful songs and the grim reality of war.