Goodnight Mr Tom (Duke of York’s Theatre)

Michelle Margorian’s 1981 novel about evacuees in Dorset and one in particular, William Beech, has become a classic, and there was a television adaptation with John Thaw as Tom which screened in 1998 which was well-received.

In this small-scale but affecting production, we have David Troughton as the grouchy reclusive widower who takes in the nervous and abused William and both of them transform as their friendship grows along with those around them (including a kindly doctor, a newly-married teacher, and a spirited Jewish boy called Zach whose parents are in the theatre).

This is an old-fashioned tale with a simple message, but is well-told, and manages to be quite chilling in places (William’s insane Bible-bashing mother has had an illegitimate child and leaves her to die, causing the boy considerable mental distress).

David Wood’s play, directed by Angus Jackson, has been revived a few times, but still works.  As the boys, Joe Reynolds as Will (we think), and Sonny Kirby as Zach, were excellent, in quite difficult roles.  And I have to mention the marvellous puppet work which not only evokes squirrels and hedge-sparrows, but also Mr Tom’s dog Sammy, who came to life in the expert hands of Elisa de Grey.

I also loved the sets with train posters and wartime rationing tips dominating, and this even transferred into the programme, which has period advertising throughout.