Image based on the cover of the Austral edition of David Copperfield published by Grupo Planeta
David Copperfield
by Charles Dickens adapted for the stage by Nick Warburton
with original music composed by Colin Guthrie
Directed by Penny Tuerk
27th - 31st August 2012
The Tower Theatre performing at the Minack Theatre, Porthcurno
Review by Jenni Balow
No wonder Charles Dickens is still world-famous exactly 200 years after he was born - this clever production of
one of his best loved works, David Copperfield, by the Tower Theatre Company gives us heaps of evidence of
his remarkable talent for creating names and characters that will stay with us forever.
They are names to relish and characters made for good actors who will use his flair for Victorian melodrama, humour, sentimentality, cruelty and villainy to entertain us to the full.
This narrative production, adapted by radio and television playwrite and author Nick Warburton, features David Copperfield as expressive schoolboy, (Freddie Norris) teenager (Will Norris) and adult (Alex Buckley). Freddie and Will are also trombonists in the band with their Dad, Jonathan, who plays piano.
The band, with inspired and apt original music by Colin Guthrie, adds hugely to the success of this production. Guitarist Martin South played with a clay pipe in his mouth for his role as Daniel Peggotty too. Fittingly, all the musicians were in period costume.
Daniel Watson as the ever so 'umble Uriah Heep, was spot on. It's all too easy to 'heep' on the hand wringing, but this man was smart and sinister. Martin Shaw as the beaming Barkis, John Chapman as the ever well intentioned Micawber and Dom Ward as the sneering adult Steerforth gave fine performances.
Favourite among the cameos were Peter Novis as Mr Dick, Karen Walker as the kindly Peggotty and Michael Mayne as Uriah's victim, Mr Wickfield, not forgetting Oscar as Jip the dog, whose Barkis was better than his bite thanks to sound designer Phillip Ley.
The only criticism is that some voices needed to be bigger to compete with the sound of the wind and the waves at the Minack, because we didn't want to miss a word of Dickens' brilliant script.
The simple set design by Michael Bettell converted gravestones into chairs and benches during seamless scene changes, and a corking bottling plant was instantly set up. In fact the whole play was deftly directed by Penny Tuerk.
Cast David : Alex Buckley
Davy as a child : Freddie Norris
Young Davy : Will Norris
Clara Copperfield : Janet South
Edward Murdstone : Gately Freeman
Jane Murdstone : Anne Connell
Betsey Trotwood : Sue Brodie
Mr. Dick : Peter Novis
Peggotty : Karen Walker
Daniel Peggotty : Martin South
Ham : Ed O'Shaughnessy
Emily : Carla Evans
Mrs. Gummidge : Niki Mylonas
Barkis : Martin Shaw
Mr. Wickfield : Michael Mayne
Agnes : Philippa Tatham
Dora/Martha : Jennifer Quinn
Uriah Heep : Daniel Watson
Mrs. Heep : Alison Liney
Steerforth : Dom Ward
Young Steerforth : Sam South
Mrs. Steerforth : Helen McCormack
Rosa Dartle : Annemarie Fearnley
Littimer/Dr. Chillip : Andrew Barrett
Mr. Micawber : John Chapman
Mrs. Micawber : Ruth Sullivan
Creakle : Ian Hoare
Mr. Mell : Jonathan Wober
Bailiff : Jonathan Norris
Waiter/Tinker : Richard Kirby
Children : Isaac Insley, Eliza Insley, Darcey McAlister-Wober, Rachel McAlister-Wober,
Aimee Shaw, Katherine Shaw, Alice Shaw and Daniele Grigioni-Liney
Other parts to be played by members of the company
Musicians
Colin Guthrie
Phillip Ley
Paul Sanders Sam Grigioni-Liney
Joey Bradick Peta Barker
and members of the cast
... and featuring Oscar as Jip
Production Team
Director : Penny Tuerk
Musical Director : Colin Guthrie
Set Design : Michael Bettell
Costume Design : Kym Gribble and Abigale Lewis
Lighting Design : Laurence Tuerk
Sound Design : Phillip Ley
Stage Manager : Laurence Tuerk
Assistant Director : Luise Weiner
Lighting Operator : Katie South
Sound Operator : Michelle Roebuck
ASMs : Alexandra Poch, Ann Watchorn, Ruth Sanderson, Roanne Insley, Michael Bettell
Set Construction & Rigging : Michael Bettell, Keith Syrett, Phillip Ley, Alan Wilkinson,
Nick Insley, David Holyoake, Margaret Ley
FOH Co-ordinator : Jayne Lawrence
