'Great Expectations' Review

Malvern Festival Theatre

GREAT EXPECTATIONS (Beckman Unicorn)

Paula Wilcox as Miss Havershim

There are so many wonderful reasons to go and see the latest reincarnation of Charles Dickens’ masterpiece, Great Expectations at Malvern Festival Theatre this week, the first being that this is a rare opportunity to see it prior to it opening in the West End later this year.

You would be forgiven for thinking that the king of gothic fantasy, Tim Burton, had had a hand in this extravagant production, but it is actually the brainchild of Graham McLaren, who also directed the proceedings. The faded grandeur of Robin Peoples’ breathtaking set superbly compliments the absolutely magnificent costumes created by Annie Gosney and Giovanni Bedin. Add to this, atmospheric lighting and sound, courtesy of Kai Fischer and Matt McKenzie, with Simon Slater’s haunting underscoring, and a magical, Dickensian circus of horrors is presented for your delectation by an excellent cast of players.

The fifteen actors that tell this tragic tale of heartbreak and loss literally slip in and out of the set, using every nook and cranny as a platform from which to expound. McLaren perfectly moves the story from desolate marshes to London town, without every leaving the crumbling walls of the poor Miss Havisham’s palatial prison. The dramatic physical and vocal portrayal of the characters is captivating and particularly well executed by Isabelle Joss and James Vaughan as the hideously appealing Mrs Joe and Wopsle, who set the bar extremely high, very early on in proceedings, with their energised performance, an energy unquestionably matched by Jack Ellis as the lawyer, Jaggers, and Nathan Guy as the eccentric Herbert Pocket. Paula Wilcox cleverly underplays Miss Havisham, giving a refreshingly naturalist characterisation, as does Taylor Jay-Davies as the protagonist, Pip. This is a real ensemble piece and the entire cast and creative team must be congratulated on this exquisite production.