Review: David Copperfield @ Octagon Theatre, Bolton (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Review: David Copperfield @ Octagon Theatre, Bolton

1:03pm Monday 13th December 2010 in Reviews By Steve Orrell

Everybody has their own festive traditions, and I was brought up on panto.

Forever telling the hard-of-hearing actors to look behind them, I'd be booing and hissing while having cheeks like a chipmunk stuffed with Haribo - well, it was midget gems and Swizzles back in my day.

So a seasonal trip to see a Charles Dickins adaptation was somewhat of a departure for me - oh yes it was.

And the last time I set foot in the Octagon was in the early 1980s, around the time when another David Copperfield was seeking fame in TV's Three of a Kind, alongside Lenny Henry and Tracey Ullman.

So there I found myself re-engaging my memory cells with this unique auditorium and an imposing stage and scenery set, giving that up, close and personal touch that the bigger arenas lose out on.

And so the life and adventures of David Copperfield, described by Dickens as his favourite hero, was canned into 110 enchanting minutes.

A slicker production you will have to go far to see replicated.

Jacob Aspinall gave an unflustered and competent portrayal of young David Copperfield in the first act, as the adult version of David (Geoffrey Breton) narrates.

Some 10-year-olds and under might struggle to grasp the concept, and consequently not follow all the twists and turns of the story, but you don't have to have read the novel to enjoy it, and there's usually enough happening to keep the younger youngsters entertained, sprinkled every now and then with some excellent visual and prop-induced humour.

Breton is the solid rock throughout, maintaining constant connection with the audience as he takes centre stage in the second act, but he is by no means the only star of the show.

The supporting cast of Ruth Alexander Rubin, Tobias Beer, Clara Darcy, Lloyd Gorman, Barbara Hockaday, Jake Norton and Simeon Truby each deserve plaudits for playing three main different roles and they're inter-twined brilliantly - a huge pat on the back for the backstage team.

Called upon to play music and sing as well, it all helps to string the tales together with a verve and velocity required for a novel which runs to 737 pages in its original form.

Many will have their own favourite character portrayals - Mr Micawber (Tobias Beer) was rip-roaring, while Mr Peggotty (Simeon Truby) had that engaging appeal that you felt you could chat to him all night without resorting to playing on your DS.

And the young cast members play their part too - not least in a memorable wine-making musical routine during the first half - worthy of an ovation in itself.

But panto-land this was not. Applause had to wait till the end, and there was no shortage of rapturous appreciation meted out by Friday night's crowd.

A refreshing change to my normal panto fodder, indeed.

Don't leave this behind you.

* Runs until January 15. For information, visit octagonbolton.co.uk or ring 01204 520661.