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Following two fun auditions, we have now been able to cast the show. Members should have received an email with the cast list. We have a cast of 47 and are looking forward to starting rehearsals in November. The rehearsal schedule is available via the post at the top right.

Related links

• The story of The Railway Children
• The Railway Children – list of characters
• The Railway Children – scenes and songs

Scene 1: The London House and Surrounding Streets
Song: Prologue (Perks)
Song: Christmas is here! (Family, servants, carol singers)
Song: You can never return (Perks)

Scene 2: Charing Cross Station
Song: Together (Mother, Bobbie, Peter, Phyllis)

Scene 3: The Cottage
Song: You may enter a tunnel (Perks)

Scene 4: The Hillside

Scene 5: The Station
Song: All on time (Perks, Villagers)

Scene 6: Inside the Cottage
Song: You might make a friend (Perks)

Scene 7: The Station Platform
Song: Posh talk (Bobbie, Peter, Phyllis, Perks’ children, village children)

Scene 8: The Cottage Garden and Kitchen
Song: Lullaby (in Russian! Szczepansky)

Scene 9: The Railway Carriage and the Hillside
Song: The Railway Children (Old Gentleman)

Scene 10: The Cottage Garden
Song: ‘Til the day (Mother)

Scene 11: The Hillside, Outside the Tunnel

ACT TWO

Scene 1: The Station Platform
Song: A once in a lifetime day (Perks, Engine driver, Bobbie, Peter, Phyllis, villagers)
Song: While you’re busy dreaming (Old Gentleman)

Scene 2: The Hillside, Outside the Tunnel
Dance: Paperchase ballet

Scene 3: Inside the Tunnel
Song: Nothing to fear (Bobbie)

Scene 4: The Cottage
Song: One voice (part 1) (Old Gentleman, Perks)

Scene 5: The Cottage Garden

Scene 6: The Train Carriage

Scene 7: A London Street
Song: One voice (part 2) (Mother, Bobbie)

Scene 8: The Cottage Garden
Song: One voice (part 3) (Customer, Lady, Gossip, Housewife, Vendor, ensemble, Mother, Bobbie)

Scene 9: A London Street

Scene 10: The Cottage Garden
Song: Who knows what you’ll find (Perks)

Scene 11: The Hillside
Song: Nearly autumn (Bobbie)

Scene 12: The Station Platform
Song: Finale (Bobbie, Old Gentleman, All)
Song: A once in a lifetime day (all)

Time: Christmas 1905 to September 1906

Father, a civil servant
Mother, his wife
Bobbie (Roberta) his daughter
Peter, his son
Phyllis, his younger daughter
Ruth, his maid
Cook, his cook
Carol Singers

Mr Barrie
Dr Forrest
Lord Fleet
Ethel
Flo
Mrs Ransome
Gert
The Perks family:
Mrs Perks
Colin Perks
Elsie Perks
Ginger Perks
Patch Perks
Village Children

Old Gentleman
Rushing man
Szczepansky
Engine driver
Jim
Customer
Lady
Gossip
Housewife
Vendor

The following morning they hear a train in the distance and discover that nearby is a railway line. They wave at a passing steam train with their handkerchiefs, asking that their love is taken to their father. A distinguished-looking gentleman waves back.

Following the line until they reach the station, they meet Mr Perks, the stationmaster. They share their enthusiasm for trains – ALL ON TIME. Mr Perks introduces the children to the villagers, including the grocer, the doctor, Lord Fleet, and the postmistress.

Mother becomes ill. Dr Forrest says that she requires a number of things to help her recover but the family cannot afford them. The children paint a large sign on an old bedsheet “LOOK OUT AT THE STATION” and wave it at the 9.15 the next day. When the train stops at the station, the note is passed to the Old Gentleman.

A hamper of supplies is duly delivered to the cottage and the children thank the Old Gentleman with a similar sign “She is nearly well, thank you”. But when Mother recovers and discovers how the provisions were acquired by what she considers to be begging, she is very cross.

We next meet Mr Perks’ children (and some other village children) who poke fun at the ways of Bobbie, Peter and Phyllis (POSH TALK). However, all the children eventually act out being upper class and by so doing become friends.

One day a man staggers off a train, asking for help in Russian. When it becomes apparent that he can speak French, Mother is called to interpret.

He is the Russian dissident Szczepansky, a writer of great books, who has escaped from prison in Siberia to England to find his family. Mother invites Szczepansky to convalesce at their home. He remembers his family and sings a song from his childhood (LULLABY). Mother suggests the children say a prayer “for all prisoners and captives”.

The children write again to their Old Gentleman on the train, asking if he would be able to help in finding Szczepansky’s wife and child (THE RAILWAY CHILDREN).

Mother asks the children why they don’t talk about Father any more, and they reply that when they did, Mother became upset, so they stopped. Mother remembers her husband and longs for the time he will return (TILL THE DAY).

One day, the children witness a landslide. Knowing they cannot possibly clear the line before the 11:29 passes through, the girls create warning flags out of their red bloomers. Bobbie stands firm between the rails, waving the red rags as the brakes are slammed on. The train comes to rest but only just in time.

ACT TWO

A ceremony is held at the station to commemorate the children’s bravery (A ONCE IN A LIFETIME DAY). The Old Gentleman has succeeded in finding Mr Szczepansky’s family and so Mr Szczepansky leaves to be reunited with them.

Bobbie asks the Old Gentleman when her father will be coming home. The Old Gentleman replies that Bobbie must do everything she can to help her father (WHILE YOU’RE BUSY DREAMING) by making her dreams a reality.

A while later, the children watch grammar school boys hold a ‘fox and hounds’ paper chase. One of the hounds fails to emerge from the railway tunnel. Investigating, they find their ‘hound in a red jersey’ with a broken leg. The boy, Jim, is taken to their cottage.

Bobbie says that she will look after Jim (NOTHING TO FEAR). Dr Forrest asks the children to collect some medicine, but Bobbie notices a story in the newspaper in which the medicine was wrapped. It says that Father has been found guilty of spying and that he has been sent to prison for seven years.

Jim’s grandfather comes to visit – it is their Old Gentleman! Mother agrees to look after Jim until he is recovered.

Bobbie tells her mother what she has read in the paper. Mother explains that it appears that someone placed some incriminating papers in Father’s desk – but she cannot get anyone to listen. Bobbie remembers what the Old Gentleman said about making a difference rather than dreaming so she asks Mother to let her speak to the Old Gentleman about her father, and her Mother agrees.

He says that when he read of Father’s case in the newspaper, he had had his doubts about the verdict and that although he had not done as much as he would have liked, he had hopes that all would be well. He gives a quotation from a poem written by Szczepansky (ONE VOICE).

Bobbie and Mother go to London. The Old Gentleman has discovered that a clerk who worked for Father bore a grudge against him and that the man has been seen talking with known Russian spies. He says that now they must make people listen, and that the Government should be petitioned for the case to be reviewed (ONE VOICE part 2).

On retuning from London to the Cottage, Bobbie tells Jim that they have nearly 5,000 signatures on a petition which they would be submitting to Downing Street.

In London, a mob is reading the latest news – the information about the Russian spy at Father’s work is in the papers. The mob call for the spy to be punished by giving him a life sentence. (ONE VOICE part 3) Mother is appalled at the crowd’s behaviour and asks them to think of the man’s children and that their wanting to punish him will punish the children too. She persuades the crowd to change their mind, and join in her fight (ONE VOICE).

Jim is fully recovered and leaves. The children realise that they hardly ever visit the railway now and decide to wave at the train to send their love to Father by it.

The whole train waves back as if in celebration. Bobbie feels that something exciting is about to happen (NEARLY AUTUMN). The postmistress is on her way to deliver a telegram to Mother and tells Bobbie go to the station as quickly as she can. The whole village has gathered at the station because of news in the paper. (FINALE) A train halts and, as the steam clears, Bobbie sees a figure on the platform: “Daddy! Oh my Daddy!”.

SMASH’s next production at the Dovehouse Theatre in March 2010 (24th-27th) is a musical version of the very popular story, The Railway Children.

As usual it has a large cast of all ages. We invited anyone interested in finding out more about the production, either on stage or helping backstage, to come to a workshop in July. Nearly 50 people came and we reviewed the story and listened to some of the music. In addition, everyone adopted different characters and our director encouraged them to develop various scenes – either in London or the country to where the family moved.

If you would like further information please email smash@solihull-methodist.org.uk. View more details about the story, the cast, the scenes and songs.

SMASH has just celebrated its 21st birthday!

SMASH HITS 21 – took to the boards at Solihull Methodist Church Hall for three performances in March 2009. We were pleased to welcome back SMASHers who have moved away – not only to see the show but several to take part in it, travelling long distances to the rehearsals.

The cast of over 50 followed SMASH’s journey – through song and music – from the first ever SMASH production (Follow the star) to next year’s production (The Railway Children).

The show contained items which our audiences have particularly enjoyed—so yes! there was “Counting sheep” with its famous dancing shepherds from Born for Us All.

As well as other classics from Born for Us All, there were songs from Whistle Down The Wind, Goodnight Mister Tom, Children of Eden and Just So—to name but a few. We’re hoping to post photographs of the dress rehearsal and reaction from the audience here as soon as possible.

The Railway Children

For our next production, 24-27th March 2010, we’ll return to the Dovehouse Theatre to perform the musical The Railway Children.

Just So

Review from Solihull Times (19th March 2008)

Knockout show much more than ‘just so’

Based on Kipling’s “Just So Stories”, this play follows the story of an inquisitive Elephant-Child who embarks on a journey to correct the injustice of the world he lives in by finding a giant crab who’s playing with the sea. There’s an array of spectacular characters, a wise magician, a rowdy rhino, a neurotic chef and what musical would be complete without a singing stove? The talent in the SMASH cast is abundant and apparent, first-rate voices, fabulous cameos and full sounding chorus numbers make for top notch entertainment.

JLG

Photos from the performance

Photographs by Bill Penny

The story of Just So

At the beginning of time, Pau Amma the Crab began playing with the ocean, causing a flood that threatened the other animals. The Elephant’s Child sets out to stop the Crab, and discovers how the Leopard got his spots, how the Rhinoceros got his skin and how curiosity and a hungry Crocodile can turn an Elephant’s small nose into a very large trunk. He also discovers that one determined individual can make a real difference in this world.

Storyteller/ Eldest magician – Alan Faulkner
Animals – Everyone

King Elephant – Graham Mackenzie
Queen Elephant – Sue Branson
Elephant 1 – Stuart Aldridge
Elephant 2 – Chris Tucker
Elephant 3 – Sheila Tallon
Elephant child – Ryan Carter
Adult elephants – Alice Brady, Andy Branson, Laura Browne, James Coleman, Richard Farndon, Simon Goodwin, Stuart Gordon, Andy Penhallurick, Colin Williams, Lindsey Williams
Kolokolo bird – Kirsteen Wray
Parsee – Sam Coleman
Cooking stove – Lindsey Williams
Rhino – Malcolm Evans
Cooking ingredients/chefs – Matt Austin, Charly Branson, Iona Cameron, Morven Cameron, Amy Cooper, Katie Dobson, Megan Hague, Liz Harding, Hannah Hughes, Andrea Lees, Sophie Lees, Megan-Rose O’Boyle, Eva Penhallurick, Sarah-Jayne Powell, Tom Robinson, Amy Roper, Zoe Ruiz, Laura Siddle, Charlotte Taylor, Jenny Turnbull
Giraffe – Laura Browne
Zebra – Alice Brady
Wildebeest 1 – Colin Willliams
Wildebeest 2 – Andy Branson
Wildebeest 3 – Stuart Gordon
Wildebeest 4 – Matt Austin
Wildebeest – Stuart Aldridge, Sue Branson, Richard Farndon, Graham Mackenzie, Andy Penhallurick, Tom Robinson, Sheila Tallon, Chris Tucker
Tap dancers – To be advised
Jaguar – James Coleman
Leopard – Simon Goodwin

Jungle light soloists – Charly Branson, Iona Cameron, Katie Dobson, Hannah Hughes, Amy Roper
Jungle Light chorus – All the cast

Pau Amma – Andy Penhallurick
Kangaroo – Richard Farndon
Dingo – Katie Dobson
Narrator (leaps and bounds) – Colin Willliams
Wallaby 1 – Sophie Lees
Wallaby 2 – Charly Branson
Wallabies – Matt Austin, Andy Branson, Iona Cameron, Morven Cameron, Amy Cooper, Stuart Gordon, Megan Hague, Liz Harding, Hannah Hughes, Andrea Lees, Megan-Rose O’Boyle, Eva Penhallurick, Sarah-Jayne Powell, Tom Robinson, Amy Roper, Zoe Ruiz, Laura Siddle, Charlotte Taylor, Jenny Turnbull, (other members of cast may be involved)
Crocodile – Chris Tucker

Will make sure that we save some of the info for you – character list etc (i’ll email it to you) and keep checking this site and it will give more info about auditions nearer the time.

Have a great holiday, Kirsteen x

Thanks for the ideas on the forum. I’ll have a look into it and see what we can do. It’s been a year since this site went up and I think it’s due a bit of tlc and a revamp to make it easier to use.

But you should SOOO! set up a forum! – then we can talk about the plays without leaving 100s of comments on the photo pages etc. you could set up some sort of voting system thingy (technical term! ) so we could vote who we thought was the best actress/actor/musician etc for that play/musical!

Just a couple of ideas! to get more people commenting and stuff…

Kathyx

Especially well done to the band! They did a fantastic job in a very short space of time!!!

Well done everyone!!!

Kathyx

http://www.solihull-smash.org.uk/2008/03/25/just-so/

We’ll put the photos on here as soon as they are available.

‘Do the Parsee Cake Cake-Walk walk
But Walk the Parsee Cake way
Straight sided and Loose bottomed
And thats just the Baking tray’

hehe love it!
Did you take any pictures of the performance? If yes cant wait to see them!!!

Kathyx