I am not as familiar with ’Great Expectations’ as I am with other works of Charles Dickens but I am of course aware of the tragic character of Miss Havisham, who, jilted and defrauded at the altar spends the rest of her life wearing her wedding attire and teaching her adopted daughter how to harden her heart.
Knowing that the production was a one woman show lasting for an hour, I imagined a monologue based on Miss Havisham’s feelings as told in Great Expectations. This production was much more than that. Written and directed by Di Sherlock, it also combines what I expected with anecdotes about Charles Dickens, whom she calls ‘Sir Dick’, the reasons why she believes she was written the way she was, and… conjuring tricks (yes really).
Linda Marlowe (Decadence, The Trial) plays the tragic Miss Havisham, dressed in a singed wedding gown on a simple set, designed by Andie Scott. Marlowe interacts with the audience from the onset. The Trafalgar Studio 2 is an intimate venue so lends itself perfectly to the way she tells Havisham’s story.
Miss Havisham’s Expectations is as humorous as it is tragic. Marlowe re-enacts scenes from Great Expectations with her loquacious and witty storytelling.
I did feel that on occasion that Miss Havisham’s Expectations seemed to jump from one subject to another too quickly that sometimes it lost it’s momentum and the ‘tricks’ although entertaining were not necessary.
Miss Havisham’s Expectations was nevertheless highly entertaining and I enjoyed having had an extra insight into the complex mind of Miss Havisham so much so that I have resolved to read the classic once again.
Miss Havisham’s Expectations runs until the January 3rd at Trafalgar Studio 2, It is part of a double bill called ‘Dickens with a Difference’ along with another one play called Sikes and Nancy. Each play can be seen separately or together.
To find out more about the Dicken’s Double including booking information click here.
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