Reviewed by Tammy & Anthony Wildblood
Yet again the arrival of theatre night, or as we call it date night, for me and my wife was about to arrive and it’s even better when it’s at one of our favourite theatre’s Buxton Opera House, each and every single time we go, we just look at the theatre and go WOW. It just never gets too old and the staff are just all welcoming and friendly and the experience is just out of this world, we cannot fault this place at all and this is why it sets the tone for the rest of the night as to why you will never be disappointed when going to Buxton.
We were asked to review the theatre production of the Great Expectations, the book as we all know, is written by the one and only famous Charles Dickens. At some point or another everyone has read this book… this is where you would be mistaken because my wife has never read the book so she didn’t know what to expect, but me on the other hand has read the book but only when I was at school and that some 14 years ago! I think I need to say that I found the book not that great so really wasn’t looking forward to seeing this on the stage, but we chose to do this so we could give our honest opinion and we like seeing different productions at the theatre and always go with an open mind.
The stage setting was set in a wooden square with some black climbing scaffolding; a bedroom setting was on the top and two doors which open where Miss Havisham lives. From the moment you sit in your seat you just cannot take your eyes of this stage setting, it’s amazing how this wooden square has you so intrigued and engaged. Normally in the theatre you hear people talking, eating drinking but in this production you never heard anything you could hear a pin drop in the gallery and this is how you know the production you’re watching is something special and this was.
Sean Aydon, Philip “Pip” Pirrip, oh boy oh boy oh boy can this boy act, he just had me engaged with him from the moment he started acting, from the shy little boy when living with the blacksmith and his best friend Joe to when he grew into a man who moved to London, his performance was just out of this world and we feel he has an amazing career ahead of him because for us, he was the star performer on the night, superb and his acting and performance has got me thinking that I want to get into acting. 10/10 for pure brilliance.
Nichola McAuliffe, Miss Havisham, you can tell why she played this part, nailed it to a tee, the way she took to the stage had you, she brought you closer, took you in and you couldn’t take your eyes her, the way she projected her voice and captivated you, her lines was just out of this world. 10/10 all-star professional
Daniel Goode, Magwitch Bentley Drummle, Ensemble, for me he was the second best actor in this performance, the way he did some of the monologues, he just engaged with you. It felt like he was personally saying his lines to you, he gave a little comedy on the way too and when he needed to be serious he was. You can see why he played the parts that he did. 10/10
Isla Carter, Estella, Molly, Soldier, Ensemble, played the part of the stuck up, spoilt, no heart cold blood Estella to the max. Isla really excelled in this part and you could tell she enjoyed playing it. You could tell the anger and the cold heartiness and you could feel it was just super acting. 10/10
Edward Ferrow, Joe Gargery, Wemmick, Startop, Raymond, Officer, you could tell that Edward and Sean were friends because the way they played their parts. It was just something the comradery between them was just ace, you knew they liked acting together as there was a real bond and this was how it came across on stage. I didn’t so much enjoy his other parts that he played but he still was very good. 9/10 only because I didn’t enjoy his other parts so much as I did when he played Joe.
There were other actors I could mention but I’m not going to as they were all amazing and believe me when I say this… you just won’t be disappointed at all and you will go on a journey with all of them in this powerful production and this is why when it ended you just wished they came back out and carried on acting because I just wanted more and never wanted it to end.
How can a small square box have you engaged on the stage, it wasn’t only a stage setting, it was also used for sound effects, you need to see it yourself to know what I mean. It’s simple, the actors on stage make this play, it is real sheer brilliance all way round.
Go and see it you will enjoy it TRUST ME.
Rating: 5/5
Tickets cost from £22 to £26 (booking fees may apply).
Great Expectations is at Buxton Opera House from 3-7 April 2018, for more information or to book tickets visit buxtonoperahouse.org.uk or call the box office on 01298 72190.
Buxton Opera House, Water Street, Buxton, Derbyshire, SK17 6XN | 01298 72190
