This is the return of Belvoir's 2010 production with a lot of the original crew back (four of the original 8 actors returning to the same roles, and the same design and directorial team) - so long ago that I missed it and have only seen Rep's outstanding 2013 production instead (reviewed here). So this is a chance to see a reproduction of a legendary production, with Kim Carpenter's astonishing original designs, Neil Armfield's warm and adorable direction, and with all the playfulness, heart and soul that this coming-of-age story needs.
To start with the newbies - John Gaden gets to be both a terrifyingly real threat as Father and a comical one as the Bumbiter, Pamela Rabe glories in her chance to play in an ensemble and to relish a spectacular pair of slacks as Auntie Pye, Rebecca Massey is both the egotistically superior older sister and the angry protective one when required, and Bridie McKim makes us fall in love with her as much as Thomas does with her gentle Eliza. The original cast are back owning their roles, from Matthew Whittett's central, innocent, hopeful Thomas to Julie Forsyth's endearing Mrs Van Amerhorst, Claire Jones' warm mother and John Leary's super-sociable Jesus.
This is a play and a production that knows where the warmth and the hard-edged bits are, and plays both to the hilt. It was an instant classic then and it remains just as vibrant and powerful now, 16 years later. It's a great trip back in time to see something truly great.
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