Goodnight Mr Tom

Congleton Players had a sell-out run this week of David Wood’s brilliant play ‘Goodnight Mr Tom’ and it’s not hard to see why.  Adapted by Michelle Magorian, this text allows for creativity and lends itself to playing around with pauses and tension – right up my street!  There were some lovely directorial touches to this production which made it stand out as being fresh, new and inventive.  I love it when I don’t ever get to see the same production twice.  This production had a set stage with a large screen behind to establish location.  I wasn’t a massive fan of all of the projections, particularly the painting ones but I must say that the train station and village hall/performance staging ones were brilliant and really added to the overall piece.  This was a great little set that was used well throughout and a clear focus on acting and storytelling.  Of course, there were some fundamental errors when people opened the imaginary door to Mr Oakley’s house with different hands, which meant that the hinges were on the wrong side.  At one point an actor ‘closed’ the door only for someone else to walk through it.  I doubt many of the audience noticed this.  Another actress gave the wrong name of Mrs Annie Oakley instead of Mrs Annie Hartridge when she was delivering the telegram – this was quite important to the plot.  I would’ve preferred a little more general pace in scenes, but particularly during scene changes, which I suspect were longer than normal to aid the costume changes.  Overall though, I was very impressed with the storytelling and the acting and it was clear that a lot of hard work has gone into this throughout rehearsals.  The sliding doors of Mrs Beech’s house was a brilliant idea and it was carried off very well! This show was very well received from its audience and we were very well entertained throughout. 

The set was great and used very well throughout.  I was particularly impressed with the sliding walls of Mrs Beech’s house and the crowd scenes (railway etc).  There was an easel brought on too early in a scene and the artwork was turned around the wrong way in another.  The scene changes were a little too long too, but I think this was done to aid some of the costume changes.  I would’ve preferred the scene changes to be a blackout rather than having a blue light, but this is just a personal preference.  The costumes and wigs etc were brilliant and really helped establish style, character and era.  I was particularly impressed with the make up and wigs for Mr Oakley – well done to Rosie Astbury for your hard work.

The lighting was a little basic with a general wash in nearly every scene.  Perhaps there were moments when lighting could’ve been used to enhance the production but equally, it didn’t need it.  Every actor was lit.  I also quite liked the darkness of Mrs Beech’s house which correlated with the tension and subtext.

The sound was pretty awful.   The mics were popping throughout all of act 1, particularly the mic for ‘George’.  The mic cues weren’t great either; often missing the first word of sentences.  I must say that the sound issues for act 2 were much better but the mic for Mrs Hartridge still wasn’t working correctly.

Mr Tom (Oakley) was brilliantly played by Adrian Grace.  Adrian ‘s version of this character was brilliant and fresh.  I would’ve preferred a little more projection, but his accent was flawless.  I liked the characteristics that Adrian brought to the role, particularly the physicality of the character and the use of the pipe.  He also had a great rapport with both Sammy the dog and William Beech.  Brilliant casting!

William Beech was brilliantly played by Charlie House.  Charlie was also excellent in this role.  He gave an understated performance which was wise beyond his years!  Charlie was VERY believable and gave a truthful interpretation.  Well done Charlie for taking the audience on a journey – you were brilliant to watch!

Rosie Pearce played the role of Sammy the dog/puppeteer.  Rosie was an excellent puppeteer from the opening scene until the end.  I barley noticed the hard work she was doing as I was focussed on the dogs face throughout – which is a testament in itself to her hard work. 

Rachel Wood and James Swinnerton were a believable couple as Mr & Mrs Hartridge and looked great in their costumes.  It’s a pity their parts are so small as I would’ve loved to have seen more of them both. 

Janine Royale was believable in her three roles and had a lovely onstage presence – very watchable!  Simon Hoffman gave a nice performance and brought some nice humour but continues to mumble and devoice at the end of sentences.  Cherryll Topham showed different characterisations as Mrs Fletcher and Gladys.  Her version of Gladys was full of pace and energy and brightened up the air raid shelter scene. 

Arran Johnstone as Zach was utterly brilliant also.  His stage presence and charm made his performance stand out.  I cannot believe that someone so young can have such confidence and charisma.  Well done Arran on a brilliant performance. 

Everyone else did well.  The crowd scenes were enjoyable and fresh.  Overall, this production was visibly great and very enjoyable to watch.  The audience were moved in some of the scenes in act 2.  Particularly when William was found in the wardrobe.  We were also moved during the last line of the play which is always a heart-wrencher!  Well done to Congleton Players on another great production.  I thank you for your kind hospitality and I wish you all the very best for your 2020 productions of Steel Magnolia’s and Blue Remembered Hills.

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