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Phil is first seen right at the start playing the acoustic guitar and singing backing vocals to a song about the railways, this is the only time that you see Phil playing the guitar, but you do get to hear him sing again when they are setting the pub up.
After Phil plays guitar you see him do his first costume change on stage, putting in a wig and beard to become an old man who used to work on the railways called Dan Taylor. Phil isn't really that convincing as an old man but he is really funny as Dan and has some great lines and Dan is crucial to the story and keeps cropping up throughout the show.
Next you see Phil as Harry Crump, the son of Vernon Crump who runs a rival bus company to the railway but Harry wants no part of it and has his own steam roller business. Harry is a young man and he too crops up throughout the show. Harry has a love story role as he is in love with Joan Weech and she ends up saying that she will marry him if he will help get the steam train moving.
Thirdly we have Phil as Mr Ruddock, an official from the Ministry of Transport who comes to Titfield to hold the enquiry into the closure of the railway. He is only seen twice but Phil gives Mr Ruddock a really endearing quality and this has to be my favourite character that he plays. He is so funny and I loved the way he flirted with Mis cogett.
The final character you see in the first half comes just before the interval and involves Phil playing Mrs Bottomley, they don't try and make him look like a woman, merely giving him a wig with rollers in it, a large brown coat, handbag and high heels and Phil just puts on a high pitched voice. I know it doesn't sound effective and it isn't but that is the fun of it and it has so many people laughing including Phil himself as he really looks like he is having fun.
The only new character you see Phil playing in the second half is Sgt Wilson, a typical English bobby and my second favourite character that Phil plays. It's really funny how when Wilson has has arrested Veron Crump and Vernon asks to see his son Harry (played by Phil) and Wilson says now you know that's not possible and when Wilson visits Joan Weech she stares at him and when he mentions that she is staring she comes out with, sorry you reminded me of someone, which of course got a laugh especially when Wilson added, handsome young fella is he?
Phil in the show has proved that he has a real falir for comedy and has great timing. As I've already said it looks like he is having a ball and that is infectious.
Phil is great in the show. Well done on a great performance Phil.
Julia Clay
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