David Copperfield

David Copperfield a play presented by Wigan Little Theatre at Wigan Little Theatre, Crompton Street, Wigan on Thursday, 13th July, 2023.

Dickens wrote this book between May 1849 and November 1850 and stated … ‘OF ALL MY BOOKS, I LIKE THIS ONE THE BEST’. The storyline is very complex and is said to be the most ‘autobiographical’ novel that he wrote… and the turning point in his career! The book was adapted for stage by Coronation Street actress Deborah McAndrew. As stated previously, the storyline is a complex with many, many, twists and turns, so it’s very difficult to go into too much detail other than to say that we were narrated through the story by the ‘adult’ David Copperfield.  He navigates us through his life from ‘boy to man’ from ‘child to adult’; through the many challenges he faced as a child and the many encounters he made and the many, many colourful characters
he met along the way!

Production Team… Margaret Kinley (Director) was the person challenged with bringing this production to stage. From what I saw on the evening, Margaret knew what she wanted from this play and how to achieve it!  Adaptations of substantial novels, TV productions, films usually mean the subsequent production will be littered with lots of small scenes as was the case in the play!  Small scenes usually mean lots of scene changes which can and do cause issues and can slow the production down… but again, I felt Margaret and her team dealt with this challenge well… the changes were swift, quiet, simple… which negated the usual problems of long blackouts, which is always a plus! So, well done Margaret and all concerned, great job,
great play!

The Cast… it’s that time in my review when I’m looking to ‘stick my neck out’ and select MY ‘Showstealer’ and MY ‘favourite characters’… but with a cast of seventeen, all of whom produced some great individual characters, this wasn’t going to be easy!  But make them I have and my ‘Showstealer’ was between three… John Tyrer who took on the ‘lead role’ of ‘David Copperfield’ (adult)’, Maggie Hall who played ‘Miss Betsey Trotwood’, David’s Aunt and Keiran Gallagher who took on the role of the obnoxious, two-faced conning villain that is ‘Uriah Heep’ and it’s Keiran that I’ve plumped for!  Keiran took this part and made it his own! He created a character that I think we all came to loath, which is essential if you’re to make this part work! From first entrance to last Kieron provide us with a totally believable character, great stage presence, perfect mannerisms, and facial expression… loved the gait, great job sir, be ever so proud!  Neither John nor Maggie did anything wrong and, if I’m honest, these truly were wafer-thin decisions!   John was never off stage and not only provided us with a great character in the form of the trusting, naïve protagonist of this play David Copperfield, but he did a great job narrating us throughout the entire story! Loved the characterisation and the interaction between him and all the cast… congrats, be proud!  Maggie provided us with another great character in the form of the eccentric, kind-hearted Miss Betsey Trotwood, great Aunt to David, who has an underlying hatred of DONKEY’S!  Maggie gave us an assured, confident performance, another who just oozed stage presence … a semi comedic role I suppose you could say, but whatever she did it was totally believable with some lovely moments... congrats Maggie, be proud!   They had some tremendous support in the form of… Joshua Birmingham, who took on the role of the ‘Young Copperfield’… well done young man, great job!   Nicola Reynolds who took on two roles… ‘Mama’ David’s immature mother ‘Clara’ and ‘Mrs Micawber’ the perpetually stressed and overworked wife of the ‘ever in debt’ ‘Mr Micawber’ who was played with great aplomb by Garry Fishwick.  Mr Micawber is the ‘shabby’ but ‘genteel’ friend of Copperfield who, at the end of the play, emigrates to Australia and becomes a magistrate. Charlotte Grundy took on the role of ‘Peggotty’ the Copperfield Families trusty housekeeper and nanny to David … totally believable be proud Charlotte.  John Dudley was another taking on two roles ‘Barkis’ the ‘cart driver’ who marries ‘Peggotty’ (loved John’s take on this character) and ‘Mr Wickfield’ …Miss Betsey’s lawyer who David boards with whilst at school in Canterbury. Here David meets his second wife ‘Agnes’ the daughter of Mr Wickfield.  ‘Young Agnes’ was played well by Darcie James… be proud! The older ‘Agnes Wickfield’ was played ever so well by Ayesha Morris, she also took on a second role in the form of the elderly Mrs Gummidge… a widow who lives in Yarmouth on a ‘beached boat’ with its owner ‘Daniel Peggotty’ and his family!  Phillip Ashurst takes on the role of ‘Daniel’ a fisherman, the brother of ‘Peggotty’ the housekeeper, great characterisation Phillip, be proud sir!  Others living on Daniel’s ‘beached boat’ included ‘Ham’ and ‘Little Em’ly played by Corban Bewley and Olivia Beardsworth respectively. They are ‘Nephew and niece’ to Daniel… they’ve lived on the boat since being orphaned, both work in the fishing industry with Daniel. ‘Little Em’ meets David when he was on a family holiday, they became childhood sweethearts!   Will Nelson another with a dual role… plays Mr Murdstone, the dictatorial, cruel ‘stepfather’ to David… plus ‘Mr Spenlow’, the ‘Proctor’ who David lodges with after finishing his studies and who he then works for.  Spenlow has a daughter, ‘Dora’ a spoiled and frivolous young lady played by Beth Garner. David and Dora become close… but the overprotective father forbids the liaison, but after his death they marry. Dora becomes ill and dies! Beth also has a second role of ‘Agnes’ the daughter of Mr Murdstone… she’s a carbon copy of her father and makes David’s life hell!  John Naughton is another with
a dual role… ‘Mr Creakle’ the nasty head teacher at Salam House School where David is sent to board by his ‘stepfather’.  John also plays ‘Mr Dick’ a ‘guardian’ to David who becomes more of a friend, he lives with Aunt Betsey.  Declan Murphy made the role of ‘Steerforth’ his own!  Steerforth is one of David’s friends at Salam House School and they become close, but there’s something just not right with the dynamics! They part company after school, but Steerforth later returns to David’s life, seduces ‘Little Em’ whom David had introduced to him… he later dies in a storm!  Great casting, great characters created, great play… and as you can see a ‘complex storyline’… congrats to everyone… be ever so proud!

SET/STAGING/TECH… simple yet imaginative set, cleverly designed with subtle changes which afforded maximum use of the stage… loved the opening scene with all cast set on stage great montage!   Brian Heap (Stage Manager); Peter Hall (Set Designer), John Gostelow, Kevin Fairhurst, Alan Sharples and David Flanagan (Set Construction); Christine Armstrong, Patricia Ashurst, Val Miller, Ellen Fitton, Barbara Rimmer and Veronica Teasdale (Set Painting); Elaine Delaney, Katie Davis, Evie Fanning and Jess Sinclair (Props/Stage Crew).  Martin Green (Movement & Stage Combat Director) should all be congratulated on their efforts!
 
Lighting and Sound was, as always here at Wigan Little Theatre, first class under the watchful eyes of Rachel Ariel Taylor, Colin Haynes, Becky Hampson, Jacob Lathom and Brian Kenrick… well done folks… great job

Wardrobe… was apt and of the era… looked after by Stacey Vernon, Veronica Teesdale, Mary B Hill and Maxine Williams, be proud ladies.

Great show folks… thank you so much for inviting my wife and I … look forward to seeing you all again soon!

Stay safe, keep well…
‘Stronger Together’.

Jim Briscoe
NODA NW
District 6 Rep

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