The transplanted production values of the National Theatre of Britain's
War Horse, now a multiple Tony Award winner playing at Lincoln Center Theater, are so extraordinary that some of them should be marked adults only. Not that the production offers nothing to children. It offers quite a lot. But the vivid reality of early twentieth century war, as created by Handspring Puppet Company of South Africa, may be frightening to younger children. So, pack up your less easily frightened 'tweens and teens, and visit this production. You will fall in love with beautiful horses all over again. Though the outlines of the endearing story of the equine sacrifice during World War I continues to stir the heart as it did in Michael Morpurgo's original short book, the fiery horrors of the battlefield feel more than a little close for comfort in the intimate surround of the Vivian Beaumont Theater. It's riveting theater and much larger than the original story. Better than virtual reality, the play borrows techniques from film to absorb you in its world. The horses are watching you, and they will respond. Get off the couch.