BIRMINGHAM EVENING MAIL
Grange Players
Grange Playhouse, Walsall
VERDICT: * * * * *
The story of children evacuated to Wales during the Second World War has been adapted by Emma Reeves from the Nina Bawden novel. As a play, it has to overcome the myriad of very short scenes that dog its progress - and it does this splendidly.
This is an evening full of warmth, compassion and humour - and the company responds with confidence both to its moods and its difficulties.
Josie Rattigan, in the big central role, is fine - sparring with her brother, eventually standing up to the Welsh councillor who heads the household with which she is billeted, and coming to care for his long-suffering sister, played with sparkle by Jessica Bennett.
David Stone is the forthright, frightening Samuel Evans, excellently captured in this impressive account, and Joseph Hicklin is Carrie's brother Nick - always eating, always hungry, always a source of humour and potential embarrassment.
There is a gentle performance by Margaret Wills, as the councillor's other sister; and Tomos Frater, as the other evacuee, is far more believable than his character's name - Albert Sandwich.
Most memorable of all is Martin Groves, superb as the intelligent, well-meaning but retarded Mr Johnny - contorted of face, often indecipherable in speech, riveting to watch in Ian Eaton's beautifully staged production, to which Mary Whitehouse and Dexter Whitehead contribute sound support. It continues to March 14.
John Slim
WALSALL OBSERVER
The Grange Players
Grange Playhouse, Walsall
The first thing that strikes you on entering the auditorium before this moving wartime story is the stunning set - living rooms of two homes on either side of the stage, and realistic trees, bushes, flowers perfectly arranged in front of a painted backdrop of Welsh mountains.
Can the action live up to that? Definitely. Brilliantly directed by Ian Eaton and produced by Martin Groves, it deals with the experiences of three children evacuated from London during the Second World War and cared for by families in a small Welsh village.
Josie Rattigan excels as Carrie Willow, the young girl taken in, with her brother Nick, by God-fearing skinflint Samuel Evans and the nervous but kindly Aunty Lou.
The story gathers pace as the children become friendly with gentle Hepzibah Green, reputed to be a witch, at nearby Druid's Grove, where she lives with Samuel's ailing and estranged sister, Mrs Gotobed (Margaret Wills) and the handicapped Mr Johnny.
Martin Groves gives a remarkable performance as the speech-impaired Mr Johnny, with Jessica Bennett a splendid Aunty Lou who eventually gains the courage to run off with American Major Cass Harper, played by Dexter Whitehead, in addition to three other roles.
David Stone is outstanding, too, as the grumpy shopkeeper Samuel Evans, and there are convincing contributions from Tomos Frater (Albert Sandwich, the third evacuee), Joseph Hicklin (Nick) and Mary Whitehouse, who took on the role of Hepzibah at very short notice.
Full marks to members of the cast who learned to speak a few sentences in Welsh in a fine production boosted by the occasional use of songs and speeches from the war, and snatches of songs by a Welsh male voice choir.
Carrie's War, written by Nina Bawden and adapted by Emma Reeves, ends on Saturday night (March 14).
Paul Marston
