Dickensblog

R.I.P., Timothy West

The beloved British actor played John Dickens in the 2002 miniseries Dickens, Sir Leicester Dedlock in the 2005 Bleak House, and Josiah Bounderby in the 1977 Hard Times. He passed away on Tuesday, November 12, at the age of 90. 

Lucinda Dickens Hawksley on 'A Christmas Carol'

On November 21, Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C., will host a virtual event with Lucinda Dickens Hawksley titled "Dickens on Dickens: How A Christmas Carol Became a Classic." Go here to register! 

Relatedly, Lucinda also has a new book out titled Victorian Christmas: Traditional Recipes, Decorations, Activities, and Carols.

TCM alert

A Tale of Two Cities (1935) airs on the channel at 7:45 this morning.

New 'Oliver!' trailer

Ahead of Oliver!'s transfer to London, the production has released a new trailer (h/t The Arts Shelf). 

Thoughts on BBC Radio 4's 'Little Dorrit'

I had high hopes for the new radio dramatization of one of my very favorite Dickens novels. What I got was a mixed bag. The atmosphere is a good blend of cozy and eerie, and I like the device of having a narrating Charles Dickens thinking his way through the story as he tells it. But adapter Mike Walker took it upon himself to take a number of liberties with plot and characters. Amy is too feisty, Arthur too hapless, and astonishingly, the characters of Mr. Meagles and Mr. Merdle have been combined into one man (who says "I say" more often than Foghorn Leghorn), for no reason that I can fathom.

One standout character is Affery; Sarah Thom's portrayal hits all the right notes of affection, timidity, confusion, and prescience. Carl Prekopp's Pancks and Lauren Cornelius's Maggy also come off very well. But so many characters have been cut that it does damage to the story; for instance, Arthur can't win Amy's trust by doing Tip a good turn when there's no Tip to do a good turn to. There's too much time spent on events like a party at Mr. Meagles/Merdle's house (and there isn't even a Mrs. Meagles/Merdle to liven it up!) that could have been used to bring in more characters, at least briefly. 

Note that this is a review of episode 1 only (as I did with Hard Times). Episode 2 is up, but I haven't had a chance to listen to it yet. I'm hoping for better pacing and characterization in the upcoming episodes, but I fear that the creative minds have already undermined themselves by stripping the cast down to the bare bones.

'Oliver!' extends its London run

Even before moving from a successful run in Chichester to London's Gielgud Theatre, the new Cameron Mackintosh production of Oliver! is extending its London run to next September. More details are here. 

'London Tide' cast recording and video available

London Tide, the new British musical adaptation of Our Mutual Friend, is now streaming for subscribers of  National Theatre at Home. Go here to watch the trailer and find out how to subscribe. You can now stream the cast album as well.

Thoughts on BBC Radio 4's 'Hard Times'

Here's a direct link to the first episode of the BBC's new two-part radio drama of Hard Times. I listened to it this week and enjoyed it very much. Of course, cuts have been made to the story to fit it into two hourlong episodes. Also, it feels as if some of the sharper edges have been sanded off Dickens's characters and situations -- Mrs. Gradgrind doesn't say "Go and be somethingological directly," Mr. Bounderby doesn't go on and on about being born in a ditch, Louisa's spells of sharpness and sullenness are pretty much gone. Sleary doesn't even lisp! Yet for all that, adapter Graham White takes the story seriously and tells it simply and movingly, foregrounding the domestic scenes, to which the strong cast brings a sense of both intimacy and urgency. Even with some of the beloved Dickensian trimmings pared away, this adaptation shows the strength of Dickens's storytelling and the timeless appeal of his characters.

R.I.P., Maggie Smith

The great Dame Maggie Smith, who passed away yesterday at the age of 89, is being celebrated all over the world for a plethora of wonderful performances and roles. Here at Dickensblog, let us pause to remember her brilliant work as Aunt Betsey Trotwood in the 1999 TV adaptation of David Copperfield. (The clip is taken from an awards show -- the actual scene starts at 0:11.)

To see one of your favorite actors portray one of your favorite characters is always a special treat, and that was what Smith's portrayal of Aunt Betsey was for me. In the clip below, her confrontation with the Murdstones, Smith runs the gamut of emotions in just over a minute. She's affectionate with David, magnificent in her rage at his tormentors, venomous as she finds and pushes Mr. Murdstone's buttons, and then she perfectly underplays her parting shot at Miss Murdstone. For longtime Dickensians and for newbies alike, it's utterly satisfying.

New Dickensian dramas on BBC Radio 4

On Sunday, September 29, BBC Radio 4 will begin airing a whole season of new Dickens audio dramas:

• A two-part Hard Times, starring David Morrissey, Rachel Harper, Ike Bennett, Shaun Dooley, Janey Orchard, Jan Ravens, Will Close, Arthur Hughes, and Claire Cage;
• A three-part Little Dorrit, starring Jason Watkins, Samuel Barnett, Kitty Archer, Paul Bradley, David Tarkenter, and Claire Price; and
• A three-part Our Mutual Friend, starring Bukky Bakray, Sule Rimi, Issam Al Ghussan, Jeremy Ang Jones, Bettrys Jones, and Delilah Tahiri.

The channel will also be airing special Dickens-themed episodes of its show "Opening Lines," examining each of the three books adapted here. 

Listeners outside the UK should be able to access all shows via the BBC Sounds website and app. Go here to learn more!