Great Expectations (NHB Modern Plays) E-Book

Charles Dickens.

• Herausgeber: Nick Hern Books
• Kategorie: Poesie und Drama
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2014

Beschreibung

A gritty adaptation of Dickens' least sentimental love story with a cast of some of his most unforgettable characters. Whilst at his parents' graveside, Pip is accosted by Magwitch, a convict escaped from one of the prison ships. Terrified, he is forced to help the man to get away. An unexpected invitation to the house of rich old Miss Havisham forces him into the path of her beautiful, cruel niece Estella and their strange, ruthless games. After an anonymous benefactor grants him a small fortune, Pip turns his back on his humble life as a blacksmith's apprentice - he moves to London to become a gentleman in the hopes of winning Estella. But he has no idea of the dangers that await him there, or from where his salvation will come. 'Expectations fulfilled ... a show that is by turns frightening, funny and deeply affecting' - Daily Telegraph 'a wonderfully involving and eloquent adaptation ... a fine example of fast, fluent ensemble story-telling ... tremendous' - Independent 'bursting with snappy humour... Donnellan's adaptation beautifully conveys the world as seen by a child' - Sunday Telegraph

Leseprobe

Charles Dickens

GREATEXPECTATIONS

adapted by

Nick Ormerod and Declan Donnellan

NICK HERN BOOKS

London

www.nickhernbooks.co.uk

Contents

Title Page

Dedication

Original Production

Characters

Act One

Act Two

About the Authors

Copyright and Performing Rights Information

For Jane Gibson

This stage adaptation of Great Expectations was first performed by the Royal Shakespeare Company in association with Cheek by Jowl in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, on 25 November 2005, with the following cast:

PIP

Samuel Roukin

YOUNG PIP

Harry Davies/Jack Cheesbrough

MRS JOE

Sophie Duval

MAGWITCH

Roger Sloman

JOE GARGERY

Brian Doherty

PUMBLECHOOK

Julius D’Silva

MR WOPSLE/ORLICK MR HUBBLE/

Tobias Beer

BENTLEY DRUMMLE

Philip Cumbus

MRS HUBBLE

Gwendoline Christie

COMPEYSON

Adam Newsome

BIDDY

Emma Lowndes

YOUNG ESTELLA

Jo Woodcock

MISS HAVISHAM

Siân Phillips

YOUNG HERBERT POCKET

Jack Fielding/George Haynes

JAGGERS

Richard Bremmer

WEMMICK

Jem Wall

HERBERT POCKET

Robert Hastie

STARTOP

Philip McGinley

MOLLY

Ruth Everett

ESTELLA

Neve McIntosh

WATCHMEN

Joseph McNab

All other parts played by members of the company

Director

Declan Donnellan

Designer

Nick Ormerod

Lighting Designer

Judith Greenwood

Composer

Catherine Jayes

Sound Designer

Gregory Clarke

Characters

in order of speaking

MAGWITCH

YOUNG PIP

MRS JOE

JOE GARGERY

PUMBLECHOOK

WOPSLE

MR HUBBLE

MRS HUBBLE

SERGEANT

COMPEYSON

YOUNG ESTELLA

MISS HAVISHAM

YOUNG HERBERT

JAGGERS

PIP

ORLICK

BIDDY

PETITIONERS

WEMMICK

HERBERT POCKET

DRUMMLE

STARTOP

MOLLY

ESTELLA

BEADLE

WATCHMAN

LITTLE MAGWITCH

COUNSEL

OFFICER

WARDER

BAILIFFS

The part of Pip is divided into Pip (about twenty years old), and Young Pip (twelve); that of Estella into Estella (about twenty), and Young Estella (twelve); that of Herbert into Herbert (twenty), and Young Herbert (twelve). The part of the Chorus is divided between the whole company.

ACT ONE

The whole company come onto a bare stage.

CHORUS. My father’s family name being Pirrip,

CHORUS. and my Christian name Philip,

CHORUS. my infant tongue could make of both names nothing longer or more explicit than . . .

CHORUS. Pip!

CHORUS. So, I called myself

CHORUS. Pip,

CHORUS. and came to be called

CHORUS. Pip.

CHORUS. Ours was the marsh country,

The scene opens up to show a distant flat horizon.

A graveyard.

CHORUS. down by the river, within twenty miles of the sea.