IN recent years Wimborne Drama seems to have cornered the market in epic dramas, and this latest production can only enhance the company’s already strong reputation.
Dickens’ characters are so well known that every new entrance drew murmurs of recognition from the audience, and it is to the credit of all concerned that each one was immediately recognisable and superbly portrayed. With such a strong cast it would be unfair to highlight individuals, save for David Copperfield himself, on stage throughout watching and commenting on proceedings. Richard Neal excelled as the older David, while fourteen year old Fred Tyson-Brown showed tremendous promise as his younger self.
Lesley McGill’s inspired direction never let the pace slip, and scenes flowed easily from one to another, helped along by outstanding lighting effects and well-detailed props and costumes. My only criticism was that the sound effects at the beginning and end of the play, although creating atmosphere, drowned out everything the characters were saying. Maybe those words were unimportant, but I should have liked to hear them.
Charles Dickens is quoted as saying that ‘of all my books, I like this the best’. On the evidence of this production it is easy to understand why.
Linda Kirkman
Courtesy of the Bournemout Daily Echo

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