HARD TIMES adapted by Stephen Jeffreys. Northcott Theatre, Exeter.

Exeter

HARD TIMES
by Charles Dickens Adapted by Stephen Jeffreys

Northcott Theatre Exeter To 1 December 2001
Runs 2hr 40min One interval

TICKETS 01392 493493
Review Hazel Brown 15 November

Snappy direction and deft performances bring out the humour in Dickens' social satire.There is much that is grim, dark and tragic in Dickens' view of life in a northern industrial town, but this production succeeds in finding the humour of the satire and highlights the message that there is more to life than hard work, facts and efficiency.

The cast of four brilliantly changes from one character to the next, each being called upon to take three or more major parts. Helen Logan's transformation from the lively Sissy Jupe to the interfering Mrs Sparsit is brilliant - at the top of the stairs she is a young girl and at the bottom, a middle-aged busybody. David Delve supplies much of the comedy as Josiah Bounderby – a pompous figure ripe for his ultimate comeuppance – and Emily Fairman, as the dutiful Louisa, elicits our sympathy for her plight as her interest in the circus, concern for the workers and love for her brother, all show spirit shining under the surface.

The plot covers the history of the Gradgrind family in industrial Coketown. Gradgrind teaches the creed of facts and eschews emotions, wonder and romance. He marries off his young daughter to his middle-aged friend, the banker Bounderby. He notices neither how unhappy nor how vulnerable this makes her, or how his son is sinking into debt.

The first half of the play sets the scene for the tragic consequences in the second, with the cast not only playing the characters, but becoming a horse and carriage and a train. Gradgrind's world of facts unravels as he finally acknowledges his family is ill equipped to cope with real life. Richard Baron's direction keeps the momentum of play going at a snappy pace.

The actors perform their many parts with skill, bringing out the humour of the satire as well as the grimness of factory work. The set is brooding and dark, only the circus brings a touch of colour and humanity.

Josiah Bounderby/ Mr Sleary/ Bitzer/ James Harthouse: David Delve
Mr Gradgrind/ Tom Gradgrind/ Stephen Blackpool: Geoffrey Abbott
Louisa Gradgrind, Emma Gordon, Mrs Pegler: Emily Fairman
Sissy Jupe/Mrs Sparsit/ Rachael: Helen Logan

Director: Richard Baron
Set and Costume Designer: Sarah-Jane McClelland
Lighting: Mark Pritchard
Music: Jon Beales

2001-11-23 01:57:32