We were invited by Alan Groucott from the Oldbury Rep to the opening night of Goodnight Mister Tom and we thank him for this wonderful night. After a somewhat delayed start to the show due to an issue with the lighting “computer” deciding it didn’t want to perform but as they saying goes, “the show must go on” and go on it did. I don’t understand why theatre must rely on computer run lighting when its not the lighting that creates the performance, it is the actors! Lighting was provided and we could see the actors quite well so no worries there.

We were immersed back at the beginning of World War 2. Its 1939, war has just been declared and evacuee’s from London have been sent out in to the country for their safety and William Beech has been placed with the seemingly ornery Tom Oakley and we started our journey with William and Tom going through their wartime experience together if not thrown together to do it.

What I do really enjoy seeing is the journey of younger actors taking on parts, be they small or large and watching them grow with their confidence through the performance and it was a joy to see 12 year old Charlie McRobert playing the part of William emerge through his nerves and take the role fully by the horns and give an outstanding performance of a traumatised child surviving through this confusing and scary time of war.

With Mister Tom, you can’t escape the masterful role of John Thaw in the original film production as a showcase as to how great he was at telling the story of Mister Tom however Keith Thompson, taking on this titan of a role, gave a very compelling version of Mister Tom and seeing how his character evolved through the story was a joy as I was hoping it wasn’t going to be a carbon copy of John Thaw and it certainly wasn’t which was refreshing to see. Bringing your own take on such a well established character and taking it forward is something you don’t see everyday but you are certainly treated to an actor masterclass. If Keith does retire after this performance as it says in the programme, it will be a great loss to theatre.

Now who can’t forget the border collie Sammy? At the beginning of the show we thought there was going to be a well trained dog on stage and we were not let down! His handler Emily did a fantastic job through the performance and if its good enough for the Lion King to have the handler on stage then its good enough for the Oldbury Rep! I bet her knee’s are sore this morning afterwards but well done to her!

With a rather large cast of supporting actors taking on other roles in the performance it can sometimes be overcrowded on stage but each actor took on their role and shone throughout. I do have to mention the one scene in the Air Raid Shelter and the best scene of the night which was stolen by the superb Gail Mee. With a storyline like Mister Tom, there has to be a lighter element in a production and Gail certainly put her heart and soul in to it. Well done Gail for being a trooper!

It was also great to see a lot of younger actors in this show not only giving them experience of being in live show but also for the audience reaction and they grew their part with the reaction of the audience. I do hope they all take on the experience and it will be interesting to see how they progress.

All in all, it was a fantastic performance of Goodnight Mister Tom and one not to be missed.

Oldbury Rep – 8th July to 13th July. Tickets available online at oldburyrep.org or call 0121 552 2761. Mightily worth the £10 a ticket.