Review: THE RAILWAY CHILDREN at Simply Theatre

I confess, I'm an Anglophile and a huge fan of classic British children's literature: Swallows and Amazons, The Famous Five, Stig of the Dump and of course, Edith Nesbit's The Railway Children. So, it was exciting to find out Simply Theatre was staging this Edwardian classic - which has yet to run out of steam - at its Studio Theatre near Geneva.

I'd originally read the book and saw the 1970 film somewhere in my youth of the late 80s, but it wasn't until 2016 when I first saw it live in London at King's Cross Station. The adaptation by Mike Kenny (The Boy Who Cried Wolf) was, on its debut, touted as a beautiful and accurate homage to Nesbit's semi-autobiographical novel.

In brief, the play, which is written in first-person narrative style, follows the Waterbury family - made up of Roberta (Bobbie), Phyllis and Peter, who move from London to Yorkshire after their father is called away on "urgent government business". Their life of high society, maids, a cook and butler are soon but a memory as they arrive at their new home, known as Three Chimneys.

While mother writes children's stories to help them get by, the three siblings start occupying themselves with the goings on of this "quaint Little Village", its inhabitants, especially the stationmaster, Mr Perks and admiring the many steam trains that pass by. Trials and tribulations befall the family - including mother becoming ill, finding and taking in Mr Schepansky, a lost Russian writer (played with great Slavic fervour by Juko Talvivaara), and the three becoming celebrated heroes after they divert tragedy, stopping the "11.29 train" after witnessing a landslide along the track. And then there is the issue of the whereabouts of daddy.

The London version - which played from January 2015-January 2017 featured a real-life steam engine and the audience sat on either side of the station platform. Secretly, I was hoping for this at Simply Theatre's space. Alas, it was not to be, but a train still did appear! More on that to follow.

S.T's version, directed by Simon West, with costumes and set designed by Hannah Drumm, though petite in nature, contained all the ingredients that make this story such a joy to watch. And it's no easy feat, particularly with a young cast (aged 12-16) performing the rare 'recited-as-it-happens' narrative style of the story, which runs for just under two hours.

There were a few stumbles over lines and pacing issues but this rarely detracted from the overall performance. And the energy of the 13-strong cast never lost its steam. The children, played by Maya Smith (Bobbie), Sylvie Wainwright (Phyllis) and Zeb Murphy (Peter), carried the narrative admirably, taking us through all their adventures, interactions and moments of wonderment and confusion. The trio also exuded a natural chemistry, which provided great moments of melancholy and humour.

Although smaller roles, mother and Mr Perks, played convincingly by Tiffany Pearmund and Naomi Murphy respectively, helped ground the story, giving an alternative, 'grown-up' point of reference to the children's endless games and fun.

One particularly poignant scene, sees the children collecting gifts from the villagers to give to Mr Perks for his birthday. Embarrassed and angered when he discovers this generosity - and in true British stiff-upper-lip-form - Perks refuses to accept the presents, proclaiming "I am in no need of others' charity". It was a touching moment of a man who'd grown up with little and never expected more than his lot. But he slowly lets down his guard, realising this small act of generosity from the children and his neighbours, speaks more of their respect and gratitude, than for the items they gave as gifts.

Of course, the Railway Children is not complete without a train! This comes to be at the end of the first act as the children thwart fate and stop the train - in its tracks- before it collides with rubble across the tracks. The sizeable and steaming contraption, made up interestingly of furniture, suitcases and village whatnot, was met by excited gasps from the audience as it chugged to a holt centre stage.

Like many great British novels, the story comes to a favourable and celebratory conclusion - with tea and scones thrown in for good measure. The children and mother are reunited with daddy and soon they are preparing to return to their life in London.

The Railway Childrendoes not set out to surprise and follows a narrative well-trodden in British children's literature. Despite its predictability the story has a lot of heart and an aire of wonder that children - both young and old - are magnetically drawn to.

The young cast of this version of the play pull this off with never ceasing energy, enjoyment and classic Britishness. Where all you once needed was some sun, steam trains and amiable siblings (most of the time) to have an unforgettable adventure.

Cast: Mr Perks - Naomi Murphy, Mother - Tiffany Pearmund, Bobbie - Maya Smith, Phyllis - Sylvie Wainwright, Peter - Zeb Murphy, Father - Behrendt Ostheim, Butler/Szezcpansky - Juno Talvivaara, Old Gentleman - Mert Ay?k, Mrs Perks - Olivia Dale, Cook/Mrs Vinney - Emily Hamilton, Doctor/Superintendent/Jim - Dylan Winters, Ensemble: Sienna Dickman-Livingston, Lulu Naman

Producer: Nick Mills Director: Simon West, Set/Costumes: Hannah Drumm, Construction: Laszlo Barta, Makeup/Hair: Allison Bryan, Alexa Bryan, Wendy Sheader, Kayleigh Sheader, Stage Manager: Hannah Drum, House Manager: Martin Mwansa

 

---

Join Team BroadwayWorld

Are you an avid theatergoer? We're looking for people like you to share your thoughts and insights with our readers. Team BroadwayWorld members get access to shows to review, conduct interviews with artists, and the opportunity to meet and network with fellow theatre lovers and arts workers.

Interested? Learn more here.

---