A staged version of the classic children's novel by Michelle Magorian; Goodnight Mister Tom is every bit as heartwarming and heartbreaking as fans of the book (or film) might expect. The show tells the tale of William Beech, an evacuee from London who is sent to live in a remote Dorset village with Tom Oakley; a cantankerous elderly man who keeps himself to himself. Slowly but surely, each brings out the best in each other, and 'Mister Tom' as William calls him, shows himself to be a kind, caring and sensitive man who loves William like he was his own son.
Clearly having come from an abusive background, William takes time to come out of his shell, but gradually his confidence builds and he begins to learn how to read and write and he even makes friends with three village children and also with Zach, a fellow evacuee. Everything changes when William's mother asks for him to return to London, and we discover that she lives in squalor and is clearly mentally ill. She has had another baby, only she's taped her mouth shut to keep her from crying, saying she only cries for attention. She accuses William of lying when he says he has friends, and beats him. Back in Dorset, Mister Tom is worrying more and more, and so sets off for London with his dog, Sammy. They find the house, and after a policeman breaks down the door they discover William tied up under the stairs, clutching the dead baby to his chest. Mister Tom then fights to have William come home with him, and ultimately, the show ends on a happy note tinged with sadness.
As Mister Tom, David Troughton frequently moved me to tears with his subtle, understated performance. He perfectly captured the essence of an elderly gentleman having his life turned upside down and struggling to cope with new emotions. The supporting cast served him well in this, and special mention must go to Melle Stewart who takes on the role of Annie Hartridge; William's kindly and beloved schoolteacher and also the harrowing role of Mrs Beech, William's Mother. Her performance was gripping, making the audience pity yet loathe her in equal measure. The difference between her two roles was startling, but she carried it off without a hitch. Elisa De Grey, the puppeteer tasked with bringing Sammy to life, was superb. She acted and felt every moment, resulting in a lively Border Collie brought to life who added great humour and spirit to the play.
The children (Alex Taylor-McDowall and Oliver Loades) as William and Zach were also strong, though it seemed an odd choice to then have adult actors playing the roles of their village friends. Clark Delvin, in particular, looked completely out of place as George. Had all the child roles been filled with adults, I'd have understood it, but with two strong child leads, why not back it up with three more children to make a lively gang of youngsters all getting to know one another?
The set was well thought out, especially the use of the rising stage to make William's rundown London house. Enhancing the doom and gloom of war-torn London were excellent sound effects including a chilling air raid siren and a train whistle that pierced the soul.
All in all, Goodnight Mister Tom is a wonderful production; educational, thought-provoking and thoroughly enjoyable. We laughed, we cried (a lot) and ultimately, my ten year old daughter left the theatre with a much more solemn understanding of how war affected people's lives.
Becky Fuller
