The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby

While Hundred-dollar tickets seem commonplace today, back in 1981 it created quite a stir when "Nicholas Nickleby" came to Broadway. But from what I heard, the 9 hour/two day event was worth every penny. I remember seeing the taped London production on television, and was thrilled to see it once again preserved now on DVD. What makes this theatrical event so memorable? It would be easy to say the story...it is, after all, Dickens. But I think the reason is simply everything seemed to fall into place all at once...expert casting, terrific acting, wonderful costumes, simple yet effective sets, and, though not at first so obvious, the music. Wonderful music. One bit of fun: trying to recognize the actors as they appear in different roles; some as many as five each!

I first saw this on TV when I was about thirteen or fourteen and I was absolutely rivited to the screen every Monday for weeks. When they repeated it due to popular demand about three months later I was hooked all over again. It is one of the most amazing television experiences of my life. It is simply sublime.

The acting, the dialogue, the action, the sets, everything is wonderful. Nicholas confronting Sqeers is still one of the most thrilling things I have ever seen and could Smikes' death be any sadder?

Roger Rees is the ideal Nicholas, exuding the right amount of boyish naivety and pluck, David Threlfall was a wonderfully sincere Smike, while special mention must go to Edward Petherbridge whose portrayal of Newman Noggs contained the perfect balance of humour and pathos.

All in all I couldn't recommend it more highly. Ten stars at least.

It took me a while to get started on this series. Perhaps because I had never watched a stage show captured for television. I expected it to be a series of exhausting conversations in a dismal setting that seldom changed. But, I was wrong on all accounts. The 'Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby' is a classic and outstanding show. Every character from Nicholas and Smike to Ralph and Crummles has done tremendous justice to their roles. The display of emotions, clarity of dialogs, and intensity of expressions are astonishing. I assume there must have been thirty to thirty-five actors in the show. The number of characters in the play is definitely higher. The dexterity with which actors have played multiple roles is phenomenal. Despite the limited resources and space constraints inherent in such shows, the setting changed swiftly and fittingly. Not once did I feel the dreariness of a stagnant location. The sound effects, from the knock of doors to Newman Noggs's snapping fingers, are very natural. This is a magnificent rendering of Dickens's novel and a must-watch. I suggest watching one part a day, because it gives sufficient break to chew over that episode, and absorb the performances in their entirety.

This RSC filmed nine hour long stage production is without doubt the most comprehensive, compelling and wonderfully unmissable adaptation of any Dickens novel ever made. If I could give it more than 10 out of 10 I would.

Brilliant stage work, superb acting from every single member of the impressive cast, and good musical direction, and even incorporated audience participation. In short, it had the lot. Even for those unfortunate souls who turn their noses up at the classics this is a must see. It may change their minds.

The maddening thing for me is, that although I have the complete production on audio tape, I have only the last episode on video. I hope to rectify this dire omission in my library a.s.a.p.

I realise that the Royal Shakespeare Company has an ever formidable schedule, but I'm led to wonder why it hasn't tried a similar project with other Dickens novels. Could it be that this one is just unsurpassable?

After seeing the 2001 adaptation, I said I would see this theatre adaptation, and it was well worth the time and every bit as good as it was touted to be. It is the best adaptation of Dickens' novel easily, there are a few things missing but it is very faithful to the mammoth and somewhat structurally sprawling source material, in detail and in spirit. The costumes and sets are not exactly grand(then again this is a stage adaptation rather than a film or TV series, which would have a different feel), but they do look good and scenes move swiftly and don't interfere with the drama at all. The sound effects are well-incorporated and never do they feel bizarre, while the dialogue is simply terrific, the story cohesive and emotionally impactful and the drama is done to the extent that you don't lose interest. The performances are even better than one could ask for. Roger Rees' Nicholas is outstanding, while the other actors are in multiple roles he plays this single role, this more than makes sense as Nicholas is the biggest role and he is on stage/screen almost the whole time. Emily Richard does a great job making much of a thankless role(if there is anything to criticise Dickens for, it was how he wrote his main female heroines), John Woodvine is a cold conflicted Ralph Nickleby, David Threlfall is astonishingly affecting as Smike and Alun Armstrong's Mr Wackford Squeers is funny and grotesque. In fact everybody play their roles true to character and seem to be having a lot of fun, and without falling into caricature as well. All in all, brilliant, if you love the book or Dickens there is no reason why you shouldn't see this. 10/10 Bethany Cox