Billy Bishop Goes to War

John Gray's play, a musical tribute to Canada's famous WWI ace Billy Bishop, VC, first performed in the 1970s, has become a classic of the Canadian theatre. It is still being performed in many places in North America, as well as other parts of the world, by theatre groups, and John Gray and Eric Peterson recently (within the past year or so) reprised their roles in "Billy Bishop Goes To War" on stage for a new generation of Canadians. The play is not only entertaining but also reasonably historically accurate, and the music is excellent. The play is sophisticated in its treatment of the subject, hilarious in places, and rather moving. When it was first performed, quite a few World War One flyers were still around to see the play, and many of them gave it high marks. It would have been fun to know what Bishop would have thought of it, had he lived into his eighth decade. The book is recommended, but make sure to see the play if it comes to your neighbourhood. By the way, Gray has also written a musical on the life of woman flyer Amelia Earhart.