Review of Life And Adventures Of Nicholas Nickleby, The

Introduction

Usually, if I`ve decided to sit and do nothing but drool for eight-and-a-half hours I`ve either taken to bed with some form of illness or I have just arrived for work on a Friday morning.

At this length, Charles Dickens` Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby either requires a full day`s viewing, or several sittings - drool is optional.

I chose several sittings but I kind of regret that decision now because I got very involved in the story and I think the stopping and starting diluted the fixation.

This is a very good production and the acting by members of the Royal Shakespeare Company is some of the best you are ever likely to witness.

Nicholas Nickleby (Roger Rees) is a gentleman. Forced to London with his sister and mother following his father`s death, he throws his educated but unemployed self at the mercy of his parsimonious uncle, Ralph (John Woodvine).

Uncle Ralph reluctantly helps by demanding Squeers, a northern schoolmaster, take Nicholas as his assistant.

Squeers is a swine of a man, the children in his care are beaten, degraded and starved daily, but as long as their guardians provide their fees he will provide his own unique style of "education."

The young Nickleby is soon in Yorkshire where he spends the most disturbing, miserable days of his life.

These are the best scenes, demanding quality performances from the cast and it`s hard not to become quickly involved in the story as Nicholas befriends the physically handicapped, tragic Smike (David Threlfall).

At first I despised his cowardice as he stood by and watched Squeers and his evil wife beat Smike and the others, and feed them brimstone to suppress their appetites.

Soon though I found myself joining the rest of the audience in rejoicing as the evil schoolmaster is handed a tasted of his own medicine.

Nicholas then undertakes a series of adventures including writing and performing with a travelling theatre group and teaching French, but he is struggling to escape the situation he left behind in Yorkshire - and having Smike alongside him make the pair easily recognisable.

Filmed in London`s Old Vic theatre exclusively for the newly established Channel 4 and following a hugely successful run in the west end, Nickleby transfers from stage to screen excellently and brings some atmosphere with it.

The stage production, totalling nine hours, was shown in two parts and I believe there would be no substitute for seeing it through this medium.

There`s no chance however of seeing the ensemble cast perform this live again so this is definitely the next best thing.

Video

Aspect Ratio 4.3.

I thought the picture quality was fine and although a little dark at times this is essential to get the authentic feel of Victorian England.

Audio

2.0 Stereo.

Features

None

Conclusion

Performances are excellent all round in this top drawer production with nearly all the cast taking on more than one role and stand-outs coming from David Threlfall and Alun Armstrong.

Contemporary audiences will be more accustomed to seeing Threlfall playing the permanently bladdered Frank Gallagher falling around the Chatsworth Estate in Manchester in Channel 4`s brilliant Shameless.

He delivers a heartbreaking, tremendous performance only matched by Alun Armstrong as Squeers.

It is so easy to become involved in this story that it serves as a stark reminder that you are watching a piece of televised theatre when you see men in their forties playing 12-year-old boys.

It didn`t matter to me though I was enjoying Nickleby`s journey too much to care about small details.

It also shows how great actors can adapt when they have to.

This is just a great story and a really great way to tell it.