Jump on board a locomotive and head back more than a century to early 1900s England with “The Railway Children,” performed by the Boots on the Ground theater company at the Southampton Cultural Center.
This version of the Edith Nesbit book is adapted by Mike Kenny, a playwright born in Wales, and directed by Josephine Teresi-Wallace. It follows three siblings as they adapt to new circumstances far from their posh London life when their father suddenly leaves the picture. They move to the Yorkshire countryside, where they make their own fun centered around the train station.
The siblings are Roberta (Zoe Richardson), Peter (Ollie Dianora-Brondal), and Phyllis (Claire Chmielewski), and the actors bring a real sense of childhood wonder and playful sibling banter to the production. As they share the stage for almost the entire run time, the play relies on their chemistry, which they have in spades.
A special shout-out to Claire Chmielewski, as this is her first theatrical production, and she steals every scene as the wisecracking, no-filter, youngest sibling.
The company’s focus on young actors is a new initiative aimed to give these performers an opportunity to work with seasoned adults. Named the Gen C Creative, for the inclusion of all generations, it aims to produce a youth-centered show each year, benefiting both the young actors and the regulars in the company.
The energy brought by the three young actors in “The Railway Children” radiated throughout the rest of the cast. One of the more overlooked aspects of theater is the sense of play that can be felt among cast members. Here it’s there in every scene, especially as the cast members ask the audience to trust them to tell a story spanning a countryside within the confines of a stage.
“You don’t need a train to portray this play,” Mr. Kenny says in a playbill note, “the most powerful prop is the imagination of the audience, the most effective tool is the skill of the actors.”
This is a play fit for families and theatergoers of all ages. Children can appreciate the bond the siblings share and the kind of trouble that can only be found in childhood, while parents and adults might read between the lines and see how much it takes to keep a family together during the most trying times.
The supporting cast includes Bonnie Grice as the children’s mother, Geoffrey Milton as their father, Richard Gardini as Mr. Perks, Gerri Wilson as Mrs. Perks and the maid, Robert Nelson as an old gentleman and the butler, JoAnna Mincarelli as Mrs. Viney and the cook, Deyo Trowbridge as the doctor and Jim, and Mbachi Kumwenda as a passenger and a bystander.
“The Railway Children” is produced by Ms. Grice, who also did the costume design and, with Ms. Teresi-Wallace, the set design. Lighting design is by Sebastian Paczynski, and sound design is by Dennis Milone.
Performances are Friday and Saturday night at 7 and Sunday afternoon at 2. Tickets, online at scc-arts.org, are $20, or $10 for students under 18. They cost $25 and $15 at the door.
