If your child went missing for a year, would you know them if they returned? More importantly, would they know you? Leslie Rhodes faces this unfathomable situation in Tommy Rhodes, a new true crime musical written by Aveleigh Keller and Mateo Chavez Lewis who also directs. Based on a true story from Louisiana in 1913, Tommy Rhodes is a heartwarming play about the power of family, motherhood, and how our past can shape our present.

Tommy Rhodes is an energetic boy who loves to be outside. One day in April, his father Henry takes him out on a fishing trip, only to return home alone. Tommy’s disappearance sparks a several months long search for the boy, and while Henry is more realistic about the situation, his wife Leslie refuses to give up hope. When a strange man comes into town a year later with a young boy about Tommy’s age, the whole town is thrilled that Tommy has finally been returned. It’s not until Frances Edwards arrives that Tommy’s identity is thrown wildly into contest. An unwinnable trial against the stranger Walter, aided by Frances, results in Tommy going home with the Rhodes family for good, but is that the right choice? Is that boy REALLY Tommy Rhodes? That’s what his granddaughter, Charlotte Rhodes is trying desperately to figure out. Dismissing all else, including her pregnant wife, Charlotte embarks on a journey of self-discovery through her grandfather’s past.

There are two really stand-out elements to the story for me: firstly, I love that this story features a queer relationship and speaks candidly about the struggles they face in having a baby. It places Charlotte’s storyline firmly in a modern context while also being honest about fertility issues; this is the reality for so many people, so it’s validating to see it represented on stage. Secondly, Tommy Rhodes is a love-letter to moms and motherhood. Throughout the story we watch Leslie and Frances duel it out for the love of this boy, and both their stories, as well as what we see Charlotte and Lisa going through, reinforce how a mother’s love can be extended to anyone, whether they carried them or not. We witness the sacrifices and fears every mother faces, yet they are always outweighed by the joy and love they have for their little ones.

Mateo Chavez Lewis’ simultaneously felt fresh and modern while also harkening back to more traditional styles. I enjoyed that we heard certain songs and melodies throughout the production; I’m still humming “Everything in Between” as I write this review and I love it when a musical number sticks with me long after the performance is done. Most importantly, the vocalists who have been chosen to bring this score to life do it justice from beginning to end. There are some truly powerhouse voices in this cast and they blow the roof off of the theatre.

Jillian Robinson leads this stellar cast as Leslie Rhodes. Her passionate performance is one of the driving forces of the production. Katie Crompton’s Charlotte is curious and intriguing, with a gorgeous voice to back it all up. Bella Wolder plays Frances Edwards with heart and emotion behind everything she does. Dante Toccacelli’s Henry is nuanced and complex, you can feel his guilt mixed with his desire to move on from their pain. Colm Sawyer plays the titular Tommy Rhodes, and he gives a beautiful, heartrending performance. Mitch Bruce’s voice reminds me of Ted Neeley with his powerful high notes. He makes Walter easily unlikeable, which is perfect for the villain of the piece. Anikka Hanson’s Lisa is a sweet, kind woman who we instantly fall in love with. Gregory Finley, Heidi Michelle Thomas, Marie Doucette, Aimée Tremblay Woodman, Aiden Bushes, and Christopher Wilson play the various townspeople and neighbours of the Rhodes family. Each gives a captivating performance of their own, and together their voices are unmatched. You can feel the dedication the entire team has to telling this story, the good along with the difficult. They breathe a new life into these people, allowing their story to live on.

Tommy Rhodes is an emotional journey about family, history, and forging your own path through it all. Grounded in history with new songs to express the troubling emotions those folks must have felt, I sincerely hope this isn’t the last we’ll be seeing of Tommy Rhodes. Performances continue at the Red Sandcastle Theatre until June 22nd. For more information and tickets, visit: https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/BasementProductionstoronto/e-qagdgr

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