Goodnight Mister Tom was one of two dramas staged by Phoenix Youth Theatre on alternate nights, with different sets and a different cast for each.

Set during the war, the play is also challenging because of the emotional issues it deals with. ‘William’ a silent, introverted boy is evacuated from London and billeted with ‘Mr. Tom’, elderly and brusque, a solitary man who we learn is carrying a deep sorrow.

The casting of Adam Warner as ‘Mr Tom’ and Noah O’Neill as the boy ‘William’ was sublime. They complemented each other beautifully and the opening exchanges between Noah and Adam were taken at just the right pace; the body language, gesture and facial expression soon established both actors’ characters, enabling them to draw on deep emotional responses in the later scenes.

And some of those scenes were intense: the violence of the London air-raids; William’s nightmare broken by his terrified scream in the darkness. Mr Tom, lost and ignored by uncaring crowds during the Blackout – a subtle use of lighting. The appearance of William’s abusive mother, an East-end ‘drab’, was wonderfully played by Winnie Major in her vital scene with William. Powerful stuff! And then there was ‘Sammy’ – ‘Mr Tom’s’ dog. Hardly ever off the stage, Nuala Callanan spent the whole time costumed on hands and knees in a portrayal of ‘Sammy’ that never faltered as she sniffed, snuffled, barked and responded to ‘Tom’s’ commands and whistles in a perfect canine characterisation. Congratulations Nuala! William’s friend ‘Zach’ was played with great verve by Eben Harris. Eben seized the character in a full-blooded, captivating performance; his exuberance a counterbalance to the underlying drama and Zach’s death at the end added another twist to the story. It is impossible to name all the cast individually but ‘Mister Tom’ was a production greater than the sum of its individual parts. True some voices were soft, odd lines were subdued but nothing was lost with this young cast (youngest aged eight). But all the necessary ‘business’ was handled by Director Zoe Hutton with assurance and a couple of seasons with PYT will soon develop embryo dramatic skills. With tears in evidence all around the play ended with a rousing ovation.

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