The Railway Children, 2017 UK tour (play)

What a lovely evening with the Grandmother, a.k.a Nanny Cora. It has been a while since I dragged her, sorry allowed her to accompany me (HAHA!) to the Theatre Royal in Norwich. Well I thought I had better take her along to see The Railway Children, the play based on E Nesbit’s novel, but more of that later. We met in the city and had a little bite to eat, and by little, I mean a three course meal. Super fun as always! I am excited to say that I have also booked for us to go and see 42^nd Street in the West End in September, so eager musical fans, alas, I shall go to the West End (said in a very dramatic Cinderella, Fairy Godmother like excitement). I thought I’ll have to take Nanny Cora to see The Railway Children as I have always known she is a huge fan of the story and used to tell me about when she used to watch the television series over 50 years ago (sorry to hint at your age Nanny). There has been four BBC series, from 1951 to 1968, and I am not sure which one she was on about, apparently it starred the woman who later married Tony Blackburn, poor woman!

The Railway Children is of course a children’s book written by Edith Nesbit and was first published in 1905. She has been coined the first modern woman to write for children, I wonder if that is why the mother in the story is a writer – sweet. I have to say I have never ever read the book, not even a chapter but it is known to be an amazing book. It has since, as I said, been adapted for the TV and Radio and of course for the 1970 film which again I have never seen. I terrible aren’t I. it has also been adapted for the stage many times and a recent version finished this January at the King’s Cross Theatre and apparently it has a real life train on the stage. I have heard it was filmed and shown on Sky Arts a while back which had good reviews from some friends. Well unfortunately the current touring production is not as epic as that, in my opinion, but it was still pretty fine.

For those of you that do not know the story, I won’t ruin anything in case you are like me and seeing this or learning about this lovely little story for the first time. Well I guess if I told you it contained children and a railway station that wouldn’t be giving too much away. Well yes there are three children: Roberta, Phyllis and Peter, who move up North from London with their mother when their father is working away. They become welcomed in the village and get friendly with the station guard, Perks, and his son John. That is all I am saying. It is a very sweet story, very Little House on the Prairie, it reminded me of for some reason, but there is more to this story then I am letting on.

The 2017 touring production of The Railway Children is very good and Nanny Cora said “well I thoroughly enjoyed that” actual quote from the woman which she has confirmed is publishable. I thought it was a lovely story and told very well on the stage although some parts of it did feel slightly off touch. A couple of things which I am sure are not life threatening but could have been avoided. Chairs falling as they are wheeled off stage, what looked like a well-known fast food chain’s ice cream container had been left on one of the track changer levers, the odd stutter and overlapping of said lines. There was also a lot of laughing from the audience, me included, but I was not sure if this was actually what the director was wanting from the audience or if it was us just finding the serious stuff funny – ooops! I am no critic (I am of course a critic hence this review) but these little things to stick in my mind. Some of the acting also felt a little forced and over the top.

However, enough of the bad stuff, I am a happy and cheerful reviewer (said the little actor crying in the corner – I jest). Perks is played by Stewart Wright (pictured below) who I thought was great on stage. Narrating the story too he really made the audience laugh and gasp at certain points in the show (not seen it, now I’ve made it exciting – right?). I thought he was fab and definitely receives my Musical Theatre Star of the Night award – even though this was a play. For me I also thought Callum Goulden who played the son of Perks, John, was bloody brilliant and if I was permitted to give two Star Awards away he would definitely be getting the second. I thought he was a cheeky little chappy who acted so well on stage I bought every line. I thought his accent was really really fab until I realised he was Manchester-born. HAHA! Mrs Perks was played by Andrea Davy and although we did not see much of her she stole a lot of the scenes. Very funny! Millie Turner plays eldest of the trio Roberta, also known as Bobby. I thought she was really good too, loving the voice and her quickly delivered lines, more like monologues if you wish, were delivered on point. Understudy Sally Geake took to the floor (or stage should I say) tonight and played middle child Phyllis. I have to say if we weren’t told before the show I would have still guessed this was not the usual actor playing the role (also the picture is very different in the programme haha). A couple of minor mistakes, but, I did like her delivery of the character’s bratty and simple side. Still a good performance and a nice bow at the end. Vinay Lad plays the youngest child, Peter, and I was surprised to open the programme and see there weren’t several Peter’s as he looks so young on stage, but with an MA I am assuming you are not as young as you look (jammy). Lad plays the role of the teenage boy well, and if that is not your real voice which I doubt, a spiffing good accent I have to say.

The Railway Children, 2017 touring production, is directed by Paul Jepson and adapted by Dave Simpson. The set, costume and video designs were by Timothy Bird. Loved the costumes and thought they were the best out of the three. Set was OK and I have to say I was not a massive fan of the use of videos in this production and I have seen the use of this modern technology used much better in other shows (most notably to mind the touring production of Ghost a few years ago).  Some video use was good yet some looked a little odd and did not blow me away so to speak.

All in all The Railway Children is a lovely, sweet story with some tense and exciting times with a ……. ending (this post is not a draft; I just don’t want to give anything away and keep it all mysterious for you). It has made me want to read the book and possibly watch the film. I did laugh multiple times during the show which I think is a good thing; I hope they were intended by the production team. Nanny Cora absolutely loved the show and I think it allowed her to reminisce which is fabulous. The Railway Children is at the Norwich Theatre Royal all week with nightly performances at 7:30pm and 2:30pm matinees on Wednesday and Saturday. Tickets are available for all shows and can be purchased in all usual manners (I don’t mean polite I mean by phone, email you know the ways – but do please be polite anyway). And if you are not local to me, I have an extensive audience you see, it is heading to Richmond Theatre in London and then Aylesbury and then it looks like the tour comes to an end. Lots to look forward to as well with Slava’s Snow Show, Curious Incident (my most favourite play), Shirley Valentine, Dreamboats and Petticoats and of course this year’s Panto – Sleeping Beauty – all to look forward to before Christmas is here. Sorry to use the C word, I am getting excited though. Until next time please get in touch on twitter @AaronBurgess89.