Katie Hunter |
On Wednesday 9th March, a number of St Andrew’s and St Bride’s pupils experienced a touching performance of ‘Goodnight Mister Tom’ in the Theatre Royal, Glasgow.
Winner of the Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize and commended for the Carnegie Medal, Goodnight Mister Tom continues to be an international literary favourite amongst young and old readers alike.
The play, based on the compelling novel by Michelle Magorian, portrays the unlikely friendship between young evacuee William and his reluctant carer Tom Oakley during the Second World War. Bought up in London by his troubled mother, the countryside is a chance for William to experience the happiness he did not get in his earlier years. After years of domestic abuse from his mother, he slowly learns to read and write, trust others, make friends and build confidence in the local amateur dramatics group.
The first half closes with the news that William’s mother intends for him to travel back to London to be with her and leaves you on the edge of your seat. The events after the interval are profoundly moving and I strongly recommend that tissues should be bought upon arrival.
Almost 80 pupils from S2 and S3 travelled for the matinee performance on Wednesday afternoon. Mr Wilkie, lifelong Mister Tom devotee, described the performance as ‘profoundly moving, entertaining and as if the words of the book jumped right onto the stage.’
The play, without a doubt, brings the book to life. David Wood’s adaptation creates believable characters and captures the struggling relationships, specifically between Mr Tom, William and his mother, extremely effectively.
The play runs for 2h 15m and gives a gripping and informative account of evacuation during the Second World War. Personally, I was moved by the heartfelt performance and felt that David Wood did the book justice. I will certainly be recommending the play to my friends and family.
