4 STARS
This week I ventured, unprepared, into the Nottingham Lakeside Arts Centre for a musical rendering of Dickens’ life and works. The company of four (Matt Bateman, Andrew Gallo, Matthew Hendrickson and Martin Sarreal) burst onto stage with a certain Glee-esque American energy that, to my amazement, managed to last for the entire production. Playing upon the typical Dickensian melancholy found within his works, the production’s humour was surprisingly dark which contrasted with the upbeat musical delivery of his writings.
This cheerful gloominess grew on me and by the end of the production not only was I moved by the sad depiction of Dickens’ decline into old age, which featured imaginary conversations with characters such as Miss Havisham from Great Expectations, I was also left elevated and in fits of laughter by A Christmas Carol, the final book performed. Andrew Gallo’s surprise imitation of Kermit the Frog whilst playing Bob Cratchit also left Matt Bateman (who portrayed Scrooge) momentarily incapacitated with laughter. Whilst hilarious and engaging, one thing I would say about this production is that it is not an educational show. Some of the jokes were lost on me and, as a student studying English, I may have a slightly better knowledge of Dickens than some.
Putting comical twists on old classics, Adam Long’s Dickens Abridged with its truly impressive soundtrack reminded me of productions such as Avenue Q, devastatingly silly yet truly warming. I mean, who can resist laughing at the fact that Tiny Tim’s crutch was able to transform into an electric guitar or laugh at lines such as “I sneer at you because you are poor”?
If this production sounds right up your street, it is returning by popular demand to The Nottingham Lakeside Arts Centre on 17th November 2015.
For more information on the production visit:
http://tickets.lakesidearts.org.uk/single/PSDetail.aspx?psn=122452
http://www.dickensabridged.com/
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