For an 11-year-old boy, the biggest challenge in life as of now is to hug a girl on stage. This is the answer a slightly overwhelmed Tom (played by Devinda Goonesekera) – the chimney sweep – gave, having contemplated the question. Meanwhile, the characters around him focussed on getting into character. Ellie sat composedly on the steps of the stage, and Mr. Grimes staggered around in a drunken stupor.