|
Cast
|
| Old Hag |
Wendy Gilyot-Brown |
| Young Woman |
Saina Jabry |
| Doctor |
Jonathan Murray |
| Oliver |
Kester Lindley |
| Mr Bumble |
Ian Jewesbury |
| Mrs Corney |
Jo Simon |
| Mr Limbkins |
Aaron Shakespeare |
| Lady Stock-Jobber |
Cheska Moon |
| Skinny |
Philip Ashton |
| Sneak |
Andy Lee |
| Bird |
Kitty Gilbert |
| Urchins |
Clare Allen, Helen Ashton, Sarah Bell,
Laura Trosser |
| Assistant |
Trevor Pyne |
| Mr Sowerberry |
Nigel Gray |
| Mrs Sowerberry |
Maggie Hewitt |
| Charlotte |
Lucy Gray |
| Noah Claypole |
Aaron Shakespeare |
| Old Woman |
Wendy Gilyot-Brown |
| Husband |
Jonathan Murray |
| Monks |
Aaron Shakespeare |
| City Nobs |
Chris Robertson, Pat Wilson |
| Artful Dodger |
Steven Johnstone |
| Boy |
Philip Ashton |
| Fagin |
David Ashton |
| Charley Bates |
Cheska Moon |
| Barney Buckshot |
Andy Lee |
| Lockup Lottie |
Lucy Gray |
| Bill Sikes |
David Cooper |
| Nancy |
Gemma Gould |
| Toby Crackit |
Trevor Pyne |
| Mr Brownlow |
Chris Robertson |
| Clerk of Court |
Andy Lee |
| Mr Fang |
Nigel Gray |
| Officer |
Pat Wilson |
| Witness |
Sabina Jabry |
| Nurse |
Trevor Pyne |
| Narrator |
Chris Robertson |
| Mr Giles |
David Ashton |
| Mrs Brittles |
Mary Jones |
| Mrs Maylie |
Maggie Hewitt |
| Dr Losberne |
Jonathan Murray |
| Mr Grimwig |
Pat Wilson |
| Rose Maylie |
Sabina Jabry |
| Porter |
Trevor Pyne |
| Lady Grabbit |
Jane Cooper |
| Copper |
Pat Wilson |
Production Team
|
| Director |
Summer Nisar |
| Producers |
David Ashton, Cheska Moon, Chris
Robertson |
| Script |
Jeremy Brock |
| Lighting |
Richard Grogan |
| Sound |
Richard Grogan |
| Lighting and Sound Assistant |
Nicholas Teague |
| Sound Equipment |
Integrated Circles Ltd |
| Prompt |
Wendy Gilyot-Brown, Maggie Hewitt |
| Costume Coordinator |
Jane Cooper |
| Costume Courier |
Pat Wilson |
| Costume Assistant |
Ruth Cox |
| Publicity |
Lucy Gray |
| Front of House |
Jane Cooper |
| Props |
Chris Robertson, Aaron Shakespeare |
| Stage Manager |
Chris Robertson, Aaron Shakespeare |
| Back Stage Crew |
Paul Hickey, Victoria Bailey |
| Set Designer |
Chesa Moon |
| Coffins |
Ian Jewesbury |
| Scenery |
The Cast |
| Box Office |
Pat and Lou Crosswell |
| Programme |
David Ashton |
|
More Photos (click to enlarge)
About Jeremy Brock
This version of Oliver Twist was written by Jeremy Brock. He wrote it in 1989 originally for the Bristol Old Vic.
Many may not have heard of Jeremy Brock but nearly everyone has seen some of his work. Jeremy attended Bristol University where he studied English and Drama. He was planning to become an actor but while there he started to write. When he graduated from Bristol, he wrote one act plays, which in his words, “you put on in pubs, which only your Mum and five others come to see”. His first major work was called In Times Like These written in 1985 and was directed by his friend, Paul Unwin.
He went on to work on the BBC TV series, Juliet Bravo, in the 80s, as a script editor, when “the call had come down from the BBC controller Michael Grade for a hospital series, so we [he worked again with Paul Unwin] put something together”. These were the first episodes of Casualty. He became script consultant for the episodes which “were written by the cabal of first writers”. During a period of writer’s cramp, he also directed three episodes of EastEnders. He has written other pieces for TV such as The Widowmaker in 1990.
Since that time, he has ventured onto the big screen and has written the screenplays for a number of films, including Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, the film with Nicholas Cage as the main star, Mrs Brown, starring Billy Connolly and Judi Dench, as Queen Victoria, and the 2001 film, Charlotte Gray, with Billy Crudup and Cate Blanchett in the title role. Mrs Brown was originally written for the BBC but got picked up for national and international release. Jeremy won The Evening Standard Best Screenplay Award, and the film was nominated for two Oscars and eight BAFTA Awards.
Jeremy was influenced by films such as The Towering Inferno and Poseidon Adventure and admires authors such as Jane Campion, who wrote the Holly Hunter film, The Piano, and Anthony Minghella for his work on The English Patient and The Talented Mr Ripley.
He is currently preparing for his first film, Driving Lessons, as Writer/Director which is expected to star Jamie Bell, Eileen Atkins and Laura Linney.
About Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens was born in 1812 in Landport, Hampshire. Two years later his family moved to London and then onto Chatham. However, his father, a clerk in the navy pay office, was sent to prison for debts, so Charles was taken out of school and sent to work at a blacking factory in Hungerford Market in London.
Dickens returned to study at the Wellington House Academy between 1824 and 1827 and then went on to become first a law office clerk and then a shorthand reporter at Doctor’s Commons. In 1830, he managed to join the British Museum where he read the works of Shakespeare.
In the 1830s, he started writing for the Monthly Magazine and other journals. In 1833 he started writing short stories and essays for periodicals. His first sketch was A Dinner At Poplar Walk. He wrote The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club in 1836 and 1837.
In 1836 Dickens married the daughter of an editor friend of his, Catherine Hogart. He and his wife had 10 children but they separated in 1858. It was believed that he was more in love with Catherine’s sister, Mary, who died at the age of 17.
Dickens’ works, The Pickwick Papers, Oliver Twist and Nicholas Nickleby were originally published in monthly instalments, in 1836, 1837 and 1838 respectively. These were followed by A Christmas Carol in 1843, David Copperfield in 1849 and A Tale Of Two Cities in 1859. Great Expectations was serialised in Dickens’ own periodical All The Year Round in 1860. He edited the London Daily News and in the 1850s became the founding editor of Household World.
In 1858-68 Dickens went on lecturing tours in both Great Britain and the United States. By the end of these he was feeling extremely unwell and living on alcohol. In April 1869 he collapsed and died just over a year later at his home in Gadshill of a stroke. He left unfinished The Mystery of Edwin Drood which was published in 1870.
Review
Oliver Twist was an extremely ambitious production for the Magdalene Players to attempt, so when the lights went down and a piercing scream ripped through the hall, I hoped I was about to experience the rich tapestry of life in Victorian London, I was not disappointed.
The opening scene in the workhouse was suitably gloomy and grim with a fine comic performance by Wendy Gilyot-Brown as the Old Hag with Helen Ashton. the youngest member of the cast, dying beautifully.
Kester Lindley gave a convincing performance as the young Oliver, played with pathos and charm but with just enough arrogance, which grew gently throughout the play ready to establish itself in the final scene. Kester has also grown in confidence since his portrayal of Cinderella's footman in 1998! In contrast, the imposing figure of lan Jewesbury's Mr. Bumble diminished visably, to end in his downfall, broken and rejected.
Nigel Gray was sneary and sepulchral as the violent Mr. Sowerberry the undertaker and Maggie Hewitt rang true as his bossy and grasping wife, later to play the gentile Mrs. Maylie to great effect. Lucy Gray continues to take on challenging roles, this time as the unpleasant and cruel Charlotte, contrasting well with the pathetic cheerfulness of Lockup Lottie.
Aaron Shakespeare displayed his endless versatility playing three very different roles, each equally convincing. Always a delight on and off stage. Steve Johnstone gave a memorable and edgy performance as the charismatic Artful Dodger.
David Ashton's riveting portrayal of the slimy and obsequious Fagin had dark undertones of evil, carefully disguised by faux generosity to Oliver and his gang. His alter ego Mr. Giles was equally shady. Whether Dame or Dude, David continues to bring a unique quality to his roles, rare on the amateur stage.
The inspired casting of David Cooper as Bill Sykes brought a sinister and chilling menace to the stage. The killing of Nancy was brutal and shocking. David plays both comedy and tragedy with the same conviction as he pulls the ropes backstage! Gemma Gould was perfect casting as the troubled, beguiling Nancy, she gave the role naive rawness, yet the betrayal scenes were played with touching emotion.
Trevor Pyne has great stage presence which suspends belief every time he appears. Even though he played three different roles, his characterisations are always clear, clever and thoughtful. A joy to watch. Jo Simon's delightful portrayal of Mrs.Corney brought wit and comedy to the play. She ranged effortlessly from a coquettish flirt to a bitter and disillusioned wife. Sabina Jabry bewitched us with her Rose Maylie
Pat Wilson and Jonathan Murray gave fine performances in several roles, as did Cheska Moon, Kitty Gilbert. Andy Lee, Philip Ashton, Mary Jones. Chris Robertson. Jane Cooper and all the children.
Cheska Moon's sets were simple and effective, especially her interpretation of Fagin's Den and London Town. I thought Richard Grogan's sound effects and the pale watery lighting in the riverside scenes were particularly evocative. The costumes, although thrown together at the last minute worked out better than if they had been designed by a professional costume designer! Well done Jane Cooper and her excellent team. and all the back and front stage crew.
I thought Chertsey Forest could have been - well more forest like and the dropping of the locket into the river was rather unconvincing. I do feel the introduction of dry ice could have added to the general atmosphere but the overall production headed by the enigmatic Summer Nisar supported by her enthusiastic producers David Ashton, Cheska Moon and Chris Robertson was both pacey and energetic.
After the performance on Saturday night I went round the audience to get their reactions. These were a few of their comments:-
Highly enjoyable
Costumes very good
Ambitious
A really good night
Better than I expected!
And I agree.
Review by Sue Thomson
|
