by Diane Samuels

12th - 21st January 2006

To enlarge thumbnail pictures, please click them.

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Helga and Eva in Germany.		Helga reads Eva the story of the Ratcatcher who is stylised in the background.
German soldier searches Eva’s luggage on the train out of Germany.		Lil helping Eva shortly after she has fled Germany.
Helga visits Eva shortly after the war.		Evelyn surreally remembers her former existence as Eva and the fear of the Nazi “Ratcatcher”.
Lil, Evelyn and Faith after Faith discovers that her mother was Eva and adopted by Lil.		Lil, Evelyn and Faith in the attic.

From the Birmingham Evening Mail
Kindertransport
The Grange Players
Grange Playhouse, Walsall

THIS is a beautifully acted Diane Samuels play which tells the story of just one of thousands of Jewish children sent by their German parents to foster homes in England to escape the Nazis.

It is dramatic, emotional and a little heavy going at times because of the subject, and there is a truly remarkable performance by 15-year-old Josephine Rattigan as refugee Eva. A pupil of Queen Mary's High School, Walsall, she excels in her acting and delivery, with a range of suitable expressions to fit the dangerous situations she has to face.

At the other end of the age range, veteran actor Gerald Joyce is able to introduce some much needed humour into the action as he fills a series of roles, including a German officer, border official, postman and kindly station guard.

Chas Burnell impresses as Lil, who welcomes Eva into her Manchester home, and there are splendid contributions from Rosemary Manjunath as the grown up Eva, Kate Rock (her daughter, Faith) and Jessica Bennett, the girl's German mother, Helga.

Directed and produced by Julie and John Lomas, Kindertransport runs to January 21.

 

Verdict: ***

PAUL MARSTON