KI wrote: “Like many fond parents,” wrote Charles Dickens, “I have in my heart of hearts a favourite child. And his name is David Copperfield.”
Hugely admired by Tolstoy, David Copperfield is the novel that draws more closely from Charles Dicken’s own life. Its eponymous hero, orphaned as a boy, grows up to discover love and happiness, heartbreak and sorrow, amid a cast of eccentrics, innocents, and villains. Praising Dickens’ power of invention, Somerset Maugham wrote: “There were never such people as the Micawbers, Peggotty and Barkis, Traddles, Betsey Trotwood and Mr. Dick, Uriah Heep and his mother. They are fantastic inventions of Dickens’s exultant imagination …. you can never quite forget them.”
Bringing a novel the size and complexity of David Copperfield to the stage has been a long, involved and extremely enjoyable journey. From the early days of working with this adaptation, designing the set, onto casting and rehearsals; every step has been a different challenge and an eye-opening experience. Tony Brownings and I have worked together with a fantastic cat and amazing back-stage and support team to bring to life this epic tale. We hope you enjoy it. To quote Virginia Woolf – David Copperfield – the most perfect of all the Dickens novels.”
Publicity #1: David Copperfield
Publication: Unknown
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Text Header: Tragedy and love from Wick Theatre
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TREACHERY and tragedy, love and laughter, and a heart-warming happy ending are all there in Wick Theatre Company’s exciting Christmas choice.
This takes a trip back in time to the world of Charles Dickens with the epic tale of David Copperfield. A kaleidoscope of action and a host of well-known characters come to life before your eyes in a powerful adaptation for the stage by Ian Mullins. This is thought to be the most autobiographical of all Dicken’s novels.
Follow David’s spell-binding adventures from childhood to young man, first of all he suffers the cruelties of his step-father, and his headmaster, then finally employment in a rat-infested warehouse. He manages to escape and take refuge with his aunt Betsey, when his fortunes change for the better. David meets all kinds of amazing people and has both sad and happy experiences as he completes his education, then marries and becomes a writer.
A large cast, chosen by directors Tony Brownings and Kevin Isaac from both Wick and the Young Wick Theatre Companies will bring the story to sparkling life. It includes Miles Bland as the child David, while Ryan Lainchbury portrays him as a young man. A third “David” [Tony Brownings] acts as narrator.
David Creedon is Mr Micawber, always hopeful of “something turning up”, and Sue Chaplin is his wife. Adrian Kenward plays the scheming Uriah Heep, the villain of the piece. Helen Brewster is David’s mother and Natalie Colgate, Peggotty the loyal nanny. John Garland plays cruel step-father Mr Murdstone and Judith Berrill, Jane Murdstone his sister. Diane Robinson is David’s eccentric Aunt Betsey; her loyal companion, Mr Dick, Ray Hoppe, maid Janet, Lynd Mostyn. Morgan Jones appears as David’s “child-wife” Dora.
Other well-known characters include Steerforth [Tom Harris as the schoolboy and Guy Steddon the man]. Guy also plays Creakle, the terrifying headmaster. Then there’s David’s other friend Traddles [Hugo Harwood as a boy; Stuart Isaac grown-up], Mr Wickfield, rather too fond of wine [Derek Fraser]; daughter Agnes when a child, Kirtsy iss; as a young woman, Charlotte Roberts. The “willing” Barkis [Peter Thompson], Mr Peggotty [Bob Ryder], his nephew Ham [Richard Bulling] and niece Emily [Sophie Lane], the “lone lorn” housekeeper Mrs. Gummidge [Joan Bearman].
The production takes place at the Barn Theatre, Southwick, on Saturday, December 29, and Sunday, December 30 [matinée only], then Wednesday, January 2, to Saturday, January 5. Box office 01273 597094
Review #1: David Copperfield
Publication: Shoreham Herald
Publication Data: Unknown
Reviewer: Sam Woodman
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One of Charles Dickens’ best- known works was brought to life on stage last week, as Wick Theatre Company performed David Copperfield at Southwick’s Barn Theatre. Thought to be the most autobiographical of all Dickens’ novels, the story was adapted for the stage by Ian Mullins and the production directed by Kevin Isaac and Tony Brownings. The trials and tribulations of the show’s titular character was played out, from his childhood through adolescence and into a working young man. The young David, played by Miles Bland, suffered the cruelties of his stepfather, Mr. Murdstone [John Garland], and headmaster Mr. Creakle [Guy Steddon], and then employment in a rat-infested warehouse.
David’s escape saw him seek refuge with his aunt Betsey [Diane Robinson] and met a wide variety of friendly folk, including the Peggoty family, ‘child wife’ Dora [Morgan Jones], Mr. Micawber, delightfully played by David Creedon. Adrian Kenward was also entertaining as the villain of the piece, the cadaverous Uriah Heep, with Natalie Colgate, as the maid Peggoty, and the characters of Traddles and Steerforth [played by Hugo Harwood and Stuart Isaac, and Tom Harris and Guy Steddon respectively] cropped up throughout the years.
As the character of David Copperfield aged, so did the actor playing him, with Ryan Lainchbury acting out the rôle of David as a young adult. Tying everything up was Tony Browning, playing David Copperfield as a narrator, and leading the audience through his younger years.
Clever stage design meant one set acted as the play’s numerous locations, including David’s boyhood home, the Rookery [with its distinct absence of rooks …], Mr. Micawber’s lodgings and the legal practice of Mr. Wickfield [Derek Fraser].
David Copperfield may have suffered slightly from its length, but the only solution would have been to cut some parts of the tale, depriving audiences of the story and the actor’s performances. Staging such a well-known and well-loved tale, with such a large cast, might have been ambitious, but those ambitions were realised by Wick.
Review #2: David Copperfield
Publication: Brighton Argus
Publication Data: Unknown
Reviewer: Barrie Jerram
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Dickens’ epic tale, a bold choice by the Wick Theatre Company, sadly, proves to be an over ambitious one. Judged by the company’s past, high standard this production falls short. The original novel provides a vast canvas that sparkles with life whereas this adaptation, truncated into short scenes, is lacking in vitality. The production is ponderous with many scenes merely lifeless tableaux.
The large cast is of mixed acting ability. At one end there is inaudibility and the mere reciting of lines, as opposed to speaking them with understanding and feeling, whilst at the other end there are some quality performances.
Amongst these Diane Robinson gives a feisty performance as Betsey Trotwood whilst Natalie Colgate is a warm and down to earth Peggoty. Adrian Kenward provides the required repulsiveness of Uriah Heep and is matched by the sweetness and goodness of Ray Hopper’s Mr. Dick – two portrayals that are truly Dickensian.
