This charming musical from the novel by Mary Hayley Bell was also made into a film starring Hayley Mills. Set in Louisiana, the plot covers an escaped convict (The Man) on the run who is found hiding in her family’s barn by a young girl (Swallow), her siblings - a younger sister, Brat and a very young brother, Poor Baby. Together with the children of the town they believe the man to be Jesus Christ after he utters these words as an epithet. They befriend him and treat him with kindness, bringing him food while he continues to hide away from the devoutly religious town’s adults.

I must state that this was a high quality production with many stirring performances from many of the actors and actresses. Chief among these were Nic Main as The Man and young Lucy Smith as Swallow. Nic has already worked professionally in TV and film and Lucy certainly has a prodigious talent with a lovely singing voice. Several others showed burgeoning talent at a very young age. Of these, special mention goes to Hazel Eve as Brat and Adam Parsons as Poor Baby (both from the Sparrows Team in action on the evening that I attended). Hazel and Adam as siblings to Swallow, sang well and showed presence far beyond their tender years. Phil Wilcox convinced as Boone, their widowed father, the kitchen table scenes in their abode being very well worked. Also worthy of praise are Dan Burns as motorbike riding Amos and Paris Evans as his sultry girlfriend Candy.

Andrew Hamel-Cooke was highly charismatic both as Minister and then as creepy Earl the Snake Preacher . Joe St. Johanser was a realistic and tough Sheriff with Ray Calleja as his dashing young Deputy. Arnold Pindar did really well as Edward and Luke Tye was the able soloist who led the singing with the Baptist church congregation in the first scene.

These were ably supported by an energetic and well marshalled adult ensemble and children’s (Sparrows) team. All the children deserve a special mention -

Aimee Whittaker Ramona / Clara / Jackie

Trixie Campbell Lavonne

Maddie Banks Vicki

Poppy Finnigan Charity

Eleanor Cain Curly

Benjamin Kemp Louis / Winston

Eleanor Brown Elizabeth

Jaydon Howarth and Larissa Levick

 

Set design and stage management by Nathan Rhys Farrell were extremely effective - both the barn and Boone’s kitchen/diner being on box sets wheeled around as necessary.

Particularly striking lighting effects designed by George Veys and operated by Jane Martin greatly enhanced the theatricality and tension of the various scenes. Sound too under George Veys and Clive Vinall played a full part. The bales of hay in the barn where The Man was hiding looked highly effective as his pursuers used their pitchforks in their searching.

This show was long on tension and dramatic effects and perfectly captured the simplistic beliefs of the townsfolk and children with their lack of modern sophistication. Costumes with hair and make-up were realistic under the sure eyes of Jenny Hasted and Jennie Hamel-Cooke. Music was a mixture of sound tracks augmented with musicians John Fairy on drums and Matt Helm on guitar all under the command of Musical Director Adam Blosse.

A great attention to detail and intensive rehearsal was evident and the way that the highly talented Director and Choreographer Stephen Whittock visualised this marvellous show and gave the cast full scope to prove their talents was extremely impressive.

The Nomads by any standard are a dynamic company with a full range of talents from very young and more mature performers. The beautiful and well equipped theatre they have worked so hard to secure and enhance is surely the envy of any visiting director and performer. I congratulate NOMADS on their organisation, set-up and for providing a most enjoyable evening for my partner Sue and me and for the warm welcome we once again received.

 

Jon Fox

NODA Rep District 19

This entry was posted on Saturday, October 18th, 2014 at 6:19 pm and is filed under Reviews, Theatre. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.