Bleak Expectations

If you are a Dickens fan then this is a play you cannot help but enjoy and laugh at, dark comedy at its best.

I want to congratulate Tim Palmer who was the director.  It was very clear diction was important, and it showed, it was clear and everyone was excellent.  It was very clear as well how well he had worked with the younger performers and given them the confidence to play such pivotal roles.

Nick Portalski played Sir Philip Bin who acted as the narrator of the play.  Diction was excellent I enjoyed that he popped up in different places throughout the hall, it made all his entrances interesting

McKenna Hunter has come through the ranks of Digswell Players, starting with Expressions and she played the lead the younger version of Pip Bin.  I was impressed with her stage presence and her projection was super, no microphones were needed and characterisation as the play progressed was great.  Alfie Hart who played best friend Harry Biscuit worked well with Megan and their partnership as friends was great, Alfie’s energy was good, and it changed the energy on stage when he came on.

Lucy Portalska and Rosie Lovell played Pippa Bin and Poppy Bin.  Pippa’s costume gave her a great stage presence and made her stand out.  While Rosie’s softer characterisation of Poppy was excellent and balanced out the three siblings well.

Chris White as Gently Benevolent was excellent the real villain of the piece his melodramatic characterisation was very good.  Nick Johnson as Skinflint Parsimonious played opposite Gently well and Nick as the jury members in the court room scene was very funny.

Jeremy Lovell played the various incarnations of the Hardthrasher family, each one slightly different but all very comical.  As was Francine Ross as Ripley Fecund she only a few short scenes but she made the most of them!

Peter Farrell played Thomas Bin and Jane Southey was Agnes Bin.  When Jane showed Agnes going mad it was comical but at the same time you could see in her eyes, she was going mad!

I always looked forward to seeing how Digswell Players stage any productions and this show was no different.  The set had turning flats and I really liked the archway.  The pyro used for the cannon ball was good I have never seen a pyro create the look of a cannon ball before.

I am always impressed with the costumes, at Digswell Players shows, this show was no exception, all costumes were correct for the time and nothing was hired! 

Sound was good all the effects were balanced well and the biggest complement I can give a sound engineer is that I did not notice anything going wrong that means everything was as it should be.  Lighting was equally as efficient and it is never easy when in a village hall rather than a fully functioning theatre.

This was thoroughly enjoyable play, and I want to extend my thanks to Digswell Players for their hospitality.

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