Funny and Profound

Dickens’ Women is a one woman show (plus pianist) that explores the relationship between the women Charles Dickens knew in his life and the female characters he portrays in his novels. This potentially dry subject is brought to rambunctious life by Myriam Margolyes. Based on extensive research and including quotes from Dickens’ books and letters, Dickens’ Women also appears in book form, which you can purchase in the lobby after the show.

From the moment her mischievous face peeps around the curtain, Miriam Margolyes is captivating. She introduces the audience to a wide variety of real and fictional characters that she jumps into feet first: from petulant young girls to twisted old crones, the blithering, the dignified, the foolish and the cruel. Margolyes peppers the monologues with her own humorous observations and tidbits from her research, fleshing out the characters and painting a vivid picture of Dickens’ London. Dickens has found a perfect mate in Margolyes, she portrays him and his characters with an earnestness and fire, with heartfelt sympathy, respect and a healthy dose of tongue in cheek humour.

I am fascinated by Victorian literature, by the filth and the bustle and excitement of the time. Margolyes’ performance not only had me yearning for Victorian England, but for a different world of theatre. It brought to mind an article I read recently that said there will be no more successful middle-aged British actors because young actors no longer cut their teeth in repertory theatre. The level of craftsmanship Margolyes has over every aspect of her performance: the discipline, the richness and depth of her emotional, physical and vocal technique, her boundless energy and seamless delivery; I can’t help but feel that our younger generation of theatre performance is thin in comparison.

I am always wary of seeing a stage performance by an actor I know primarily from film, they are such different mediums and it is so easy to be disappointed. Margoyles exceeded my expectations. In Dickens' Women she exhibits an intelligence, craftsmanship and depth of feeling to balance the heavy handed comedy I am more famliar with. And her narrative voice, when reading from the text, just blew me away! I am off to see if she has released any books on tape.