As the festive season approaches, London's theatre scene traditionally welcomes the enduring spectre of Charles Dickens. However, a production at Jermyn Street theatre offers a refreshing departure from the usual Christmas Carol, presenting a brilliantly inventive take on another classic: David Copperfield.
A Triumph of Theatrical Invention
Adapted and directed by the talented Abigail Pickard Price, following her success with last year's three-person Pride and Prejudice, this production is far more than a simple parlour game. Staged by the Guildford Shakespeare Company, it features a stellar trio of performers: Luke Barton, Louise Beresford, and Eddy Payne. Their collective energy channels the quick-witted theatricality reminiscent of the Reduced Shakespeare Company, distilling Dickens' sprawling Bildungsroman into its essence while injecting delightful mischief and invention.
The story follows the Victorian boy David through his many travails, misfortunes, and adventures, including his formative trip to Yarmouth. In a remarkable feat of storytelling, just three actors bring this vast narrative to life.
Dazzling Character Transformations
Eddy Payne takes on the central role of David, skilfully capturing both the boy's innocence and the man's maturity. Luke Barton delivers exceptional physical comedy, seamlessly transitioning between roles from the matronly Peggotty to the ever-optimistic Micawber and the lawyer Spenlow. Louise Beresford proves equally bewitching, shuttling between David's delicate 'child-wife' Dora and the rakish school-friend Steerforth with captivating ease.
Scene changes are fleet and imaginative, evoked by a simple swivel of suitcases that also symbolise David's travels into adulthood. The seaside town of Yarmouth, where David meets Emily, Ham, and others, is magically conjured with waves of fabric unfurled from a turquoise dress. The menacing presence of his stepfather, Edward Murdstone, is chillingly rendered through a hat and coat puppet, his facelessness making his violent 'firmness' all the more imposing.
Capturing the Spirit of Dickens
While some plotlines and minor characters are necessarily omitted, and David's emotional attraction to Emily isn't given extensive time to develop, it is remarkable how much of Dickens' densely plotted story and vast array of characters is successfully juggled. The production strikes a perfect balance, embracing the comic eccentricity found in Armando Iannucci's film adaptation while never shying away from the story's tragic notes—the fates of Emily and Ham, and David's various personal losses, are all movingly portrayed.
The actors often change costumes on stage or switch characters simply by donning different hats. Only on rare occasions does the pace feel overly frenetic. This is a production that thrives on its stripped-back, imaginative staging, proving that with immense talent and creativity, less can indeed be more.
David Copperfield runs at Jermyn Street theatre until 20 December, offering a truly magical and bracing warm-up to the season of goodwill. It is a testament to the enduring power of Dickens and the boundless possibilities of live theatre.
