'Goodnight Mister Tom' at East Riding Theatre, Beverley

Everyone I spoke to before seeing the play with my own eyes said something along the lines of 'It's the best thing they have ever done!' I did wonder how that could possibly be after the triumph of last year's 'It's a Wonderful Life' or such memorable dramas as 'A Steady Rain' or original musical dramas such as 'It's Different for Girls' or the quirky 'Sparrow'? But I shared the packed auditorium with youngsters from Anlaby Park and Swanland Schools and they were transfixed! And for the adults who were there, there was absolute praise, and several moist eyes, too. How did almost 2 and a half hours pass so quickly?

Jake Smith directed last year's acclaimed Christmas production and has been invited back to direct 'Goodnight Mister Tom.'  He has used his experience and worked with the other members of the creative team to utilise the space to its full potential - even the people seated at the side of the theatre are included as the set extends beyond the stage! The cast must have all improved their fitness as they move around the 3D set, using original ways of conveying moving from place to place, speed and distance. And the new lighting rig has really come into its own, further drawing the audience into the story. 

The story is well-known. David Wood has written this play adapted from the original book by Michelle Magorian, written in 1981, which is set during WWII. A young lad, William Beech, played by Ben Ainsworth at the performance I attended, is evacuated from Deptford,  London to the Dorset countryside village of Little Weirwold where he is taken in by Tom Oakley (Roger Alborough), a gruff but kindly widower. William has been abused by his single-parent mother and trusts no-one - but with time, the unconditional love of Sammy the dog; the patience of 'Mister Tom' and the support of the community, William comes to discover love and affection and Mister Tom becomes more outgoing. William's world is further expanded as he learns to read.

But one day, a telegram arrives from William's mother (Sara Beharrell) requesting he returns to London as she has not been well. Mister Tom and William's new friend and fellow evacuee Zach (played by Harrison Donkin) wave William off with postcards so he can write to them, but when, after several weeks, there is no word from William, Mister Tom sets off for London. If you have read the book or seen the TV film with John Thaw, you will know what happens next, but if you haven't, I'm not going to spoil it for you!

The school-children I spoke to after the show were hugely complimentary of the two boys who played William and Zach, who compliment each other in a similar way to Oliver Twist and the Artful Dodger. Ben brings out William's frailty and then his fun side whilst Harrison demonstrates Zach's bravado - they are both clearly destined for great things! I'm sure Joe Dawson and Joel Walker who play William and Zach on alternate performances are just as amazing. Roger Alborough, in his first visit to East Riding Theatre, has made lots of new admirers as we watch his emotional wall gradually breaking down as he gets to know and love William.

As with so many plays, the cast has to double or even triple- or quadruple-up on the parts they take, and they all inhabit their different characters perfectly. But, it has to be said, and this is in no way demeaning the human actors, that the star of the show for me was Sammy the Border Collie-like dog. He was always there, with a bark, waiting to be stroked, handled seamlessly by different cast-members and William's saviour.

Is 'Goodnight Mister Tom' the best thing East Riding Theatre have ever done? I think you should go and judge for yourself, but if you haven't got a ticket, you probably won't get one as most performances are already sold out!  Clearly it is going to be amongst the favourite productions ever at East Riding Theatre and it is such an inspired choice as it is bringing in new audiences. I say this frequently, but for a small, provincial theatre, run by passionate volunteers, East Riding Theatre really does punch above its weight!