 Great Expectations
Adapted from the novel by Charles Dickens by Christopher G Sandford & Mike
Read
Theatr Clwyd, Mold 3 December, 1993
Story:
The overture ends with the firing of the great guns signalling
the escape of the convicts. Magwitch runs on pursued bny a dozen
well drilled scarlet clad soldiers who fire their muskets after
him.
Mrs Joe appears through the mist call harshly for Pip. As she
disappears into the mist Young Pip advances out of the dark. He
comes to the graveyard for pay respects to his parents. The convict
leaps out from behind a gravestone and Pip flees home to obtain
the demanded "file and vittles".
Pip is introduced tot he house of Miss Havisham, a lady half-crazed
by the desertion of her lover on her bridal night who, in a spirit
of revenge, has brought up Estelle to use her beauty as a means
of torturing men.
Pip falls in love with Estelle and aspires to become a gentleman.
Money and expectations of more wealth come to him from a mysterious
source, which he believes to be Miss Havisham.
Pip travels to London and in his new life forgets the kindly Joe
Gargery who cared for him as a child. Pip doesn't want to be reminded
of his humble background. However, Pip is overtaken by misfortune
but is rescued by Abel Magwitch - the same Magwitch, the escaped
convict whom Pip helped as a child.
Pip's great expecation fades away and he becomes penniless. Estelle
marries Bentley Drummie by whom she is cruelly ill-treated . Pip,
seeing the error of his ways returns to the hme of Joe Gargery
and partakes of honest labour and where he is finally reunited
to Estelle, who has also learnt her lesson of life the hard way..
|
|