Review: Goodnight Mr Tom, New Forest Players

WHAT a production and what a performance by each and every member of the cast! The sell-out audience was regaled by New Forest Players’ production of Goodnight Mister Tom, an emotional and uplifting story directed by Sarah Haberfield, involving a cast of 21 from the age of eight to 80.

Set in the dark build-up to World War II, this 2011 play by David Wood was initially published as a children’s novel in 1981 by Michelle Magorian. It tells the story of gentle widower Tom Oakley obliged to take in William Beech, a young boy evacuated from Deptford to a hamlet in the West Country.

John Langridge was splendid as curmudgeonly Tom Oakley soon showing warmth to the fragile boy. Miles Sandford was surprisingly strong in his first acting role as the vulnerable Will who has been abused both mentally and physically by his mother. Aided by the friendly dog Sammy, expertly ‘operated’ by puppeteer Honey Neal, gradually Tom and Will build a positive relationship, with Tom tending to Will’s injuries and helping him to read and write.

Tom discovers that Will likes to draw and paint and – we eventually find out – so did Tom’s wife, who died in childbirth along with their son 50 years earlier.

Thomas Caton in his debut with the Players was a delight as ebullient Jewish evacuee Zach. His characterisation of the happy, bubbly boy in a rainbow jersey, lovably stage-struck who keeps misquoting chunks of Shakespeare, was a joy. The other youngsters in the cast were confident in their roles, especially Harry Payne as George Fletcher and Thea Wright and Emily Day as twins Carrie and Ginnie, local children who initially torment “vaccy vermin” Will but soon make friends with him.

There was a brilliant effect when the floor of the stage is opened up to enable the boys to dig an Anderson shelter. Most of the other adult members of the cast played multiple roles, all with seamless continuity. David Luker was the sympathetic Dr Little who with his home-spun methods achieved quicker results than London psychiatrist Dr Stelton, played by Wendy Beaumont, and her misguided nurses (Kerry Bloor and Maddie Beard), and Martin Bloor played the vicar, the ARP warden and a policeman.

The boy is welcomed by the adult villagers and eventually settles down. However things take a serious turn when Will is recalled back to London by his sick mother. Victoria Sandford was superb as Will’s cruel mother, a terrifying, demented religious fanatic. Once there, the neglect resumes, and Will discovers he has a baby sister “from Jesus”.

Becoming increasingly worried about Will not responding to his letters, Tom travels to London to see him, on his way ending in a shelter during an air raid. He discovers Will tied up in a cupboard cuddling his dead sister and his mother nowhere to be seen. After a spell in hospital, Will is destined to go to a special residential home, but Tom kidnaps him and takes him back home. Following a discussion of who should have custody, it is decided that Tom should adopt the youngster. Will still has to overcome the loss of Zach who, having returned to London, dies during an air raid.

However, the play ends with Will, now happy and safe, calling Mr Tom ‘Dad’ , the tear- jerking glow of the conclusion fully earned. War songs added to the poignancy of this gentle thoughtful play with the simple set easily transformed from hall to railway station to London streets with seemingly ‘real’ smog.

Alison Smith