Great Expectations follows the classic tale of Phillip Pirrip (Pip), a young blacksmith's apprentice who is appointed as a gentleman by a mysterious benefactor after his encounters with the strange Miss Havisham and her adopted daughter Estella.
I had previously tried to read Great Expectations (the key word being tried) three times and each time was unable to finish Dickens’ seemingly endless descriptive passages. However the National Youth Theatre’s adaptation, directed by Mumba Dodwell, not only vividly brought to life the atmosphere of the 19th century setting, but also provided a suspense-filled and engaging performance.
The chorus work was exceptionally powerful, particularly the hissing to symbolise Pip’s torn conscience. A simple overlay of the same whispers by the sound department created a truly spine-tingling effect.
As for acting highlights, Tiwalade Ibirogba-Olulode’s depiction of Miss Havisham was outstanding, bringing humour to an otherwise downcast figure. Alice Franziska’s portrayal of Estella as a prissy and sullen child reflected exactly how I imagined the character to be, and indeed every cast member’s characterisation was clear cut from their chorus role. With most actors taking on an entirely new gait, voice and posture to make it easy to identify the multi role.
Comedic moments were also perfectly scattered throughout. Jadie Rose Hobson made an ideal Mrs Joe and Jamie Foulkes’ highly stylised Mr Pumblechook was a delight to watch. This provided the audience with some respite from the dismal subject matter, keeping them engaged and entertained.
The murky green traverse stage and simplistic set also added to the feel of the 19th century marshlands and the hazy mist projected over the stage helped to encapsulate the sinister and mysterious tone. Additionally, when the set changed the chorus dressed as servants; which allowed them to effectively remove and place props without breaking the classist illusion.
The one downside was the death of Miss Havisham. Whilst the acting was just as captivating as it had been throughout the rest of the play, the staging and ensemble gesture (using mirrors for some reason?) made the cause of her death unclear, until we were told by the narrator. However, overall I thought the play was an excellent adaptation and deeply entertaining. I would recommend as a must see!
Review by Evie Bernard
I had previously tried to read Great Expectations (the key word being tried) three times and each time was unable to finish Dickens’ seemingly endless descriptive passages. However the National Youth Theatre’s adaptation, directed by Mumba Dodwell, not only vividly brought to life the atmosphere of the 19th century setting, but also provided a suspense-filled and engaging performance.
The chorus work was exceptionally powerful, particularly the hissing to symbolise Pip’s torn conscience. A simple overlay of the same whispers by the sound department created a truly spine-tingling effect.
As for acting highlights, Tiwalade Ibirogba-Olulode’s depiction of Miss Havisham was outstanding, bringing humour to an otherwise downcast figure. Alice Franziska’s portrayal of Estella as a prissy and sullen child reflected exactly how I imagined the character to be, and indeed every cast member’s characterisation was clear cut from their chorus role. With most actors taking on an entirely new gait, voice and posture to make it easy to identify the multi role.
Comedic moments were also perfectly scattered throughout. Jadie Rose Hobson made an ideal Mrs Joe and Jamie Foulkes’ highly stylised Mr Pumblechook was a delight to watch. This provided the audience with some respite from the dismal subject matter, keeping them engaged and entertained.
The murky green traverse stage and simplistic set also added to the feel of the 19th century marshlands and the hazy mist projected over the stage helped to encapsulate the sinister and mysterious tone. Additionally, when the set changed the chorus dressed as servants; which allowed them to effectively remove and place props without breaking the classist illusion.
The one downside was the death of Miss Havisham. Whilst the acting was just as captivating as it had been throughout the rest of the play, the staging and ensemble gesture (using mirrors for some reason?) made the cause of her death unclear, until we were told by the narrator. However, overall I thought the play was an excellent adaptation and deeply entertaining. I would recommend as a must see!
Review by Evie Bernard