I always had a soft spot for this play. It's territory was sort of taken over by the TV movie genre. I, too, haven't read it in a long time, but If it's played straight, with good actors and not too much of a heavy hand, it can be work. I think you need strong child actors, and that's one reason it's not performed very often.
Tone is usually pretty somber, not particularly uplifting (trying not to spoil).
"Through The Sacrifice You Made, We Can't Believe The Price You Paid..For Love!"