THEATRE REVIEWS

The theatre is supposed to be a magical place to which you have to go. Charles Dickens thought that about what he had to write and when someone takes his work and transports it to the stage magic should be performed for our pleasure. It happened at West Yorkshire Playhouse when Giles Havergal gave us his adaptation of David Copperfield which he then proceeded to direct beautifully to keep the audience spellbound. All this takes place in front of an, at first, austere dark grey back drop designed by Simon Higlett, which somehow fades into reality as the characters bring the place to life.

Rupert Frazer gave us a master class in unobtrusive narration as he takes the part of the elder David looking back on his past. He watches his young self (Mark Rice-Oxley) through his childhood of ups and downs with his parents, towards that relationship with Betsy Trotwood (Ellen Sheean) the retiring guardian who comes up with the solutions. The experience of the schools of that time and his meeting with Steerforth (Gregory Fox-Murphy) and later disappointment in the latter's behaviour. The trips to Great Yarmouth for the insight into the life of Peggotty (Alwyne Taylor) and her family. His connection with the law firm where the despicable "umble" Uriah Heap (Steven O'Neill) comes into the plot at the expense of the firm's owner Wickfield (Timothy Kightley). Then there are the Micawbers with Mr (Andy Hockley) leading his wife (Patti Clare) a merry dance as he leads her to believe that something will turn up. There is David's blindness to the right love in his life whether it be Dora (Saskia Butler) or Agnes (Candida Benson). One thing you can be sure of in this production is that the acting by the whole cast surpasses what is required, so let's not forget Tristram Wymark as Mr Murdstone, Celyn Jones as Ham, Peter Rylands as Dan, Lisa Ellis as Emily and the children.