Reviewed Tuesday 18th February 2014
With the original title, The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club, Containing a Faithful Record of the Perambulations, Perils, Travels, Adventures and Sporting Transactions of the Corresponding Members, now simply referred to as The Pickwick Papers, Charles Dickens introduced the loveable characters of Mr. Samuel Pickwick and his three friends, who toured the countryside and wrote back to the other members of the club about their findings. This provides a framework for a series of adventures, or misadventures, largely brought about by the naivety of the quartet of Pickwickians.
One of the major events is the trial of Mr. Pickwick for breach of promise, when his widowed landlady, Mrs. Bardell, misconstrues his attempts to explain that he intends to take on a manservant, Sam Weller. Nigel Nevinson takes this, and Mr. Pickwick's incarceration when he refuses to pay, along with some more humorous passages, and presents a captivating hour of Dickensian fun and whimsy, playing all of the characters, differentiating them with a few small changes of costumes and a cavalcade of remarkably unique characterisations.
The Trials and Tribulations Of Mr. Pickwick is his own script, drawn from the novel and edited into a single narrative.
All Nevinson needs are a few props, and a great costume, and the rest draws on his understanding of, and affection for Mr. Pickwick, his friends, and adversaries. His love for this novel shines through as Nevinson lifts these people off of the pages and brings them to life. His vividly painted characters and the fast-paced performance captivated the audience, and it was especially appreciated by members of the Dickens Fellowship who were in attendance.
Nevinson knows his quirky characters well, and is equally familiar with the life and times of the author, resulting in a thoroughly authentic and absorbing evening
Nobody who loves the works of Dickens will want to miss this performance with all of its charm and humour and, if you are one of those not overly familiar with this great writer, this performance will have you seeking out his books. Don't wait too long as the first few nights were already sold out.
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