REVIEW: WHAT THE DICKENS? @ OSO ARTS CENTRE

🎭 What the Dickens?

📍 OSP Arts Centre, Old Sorting Office, 49 Station Road Barnes, London, SW13 0LF

🗓 Tuesday 26th November 2024

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A HAUNTING REIMAGINING OF A LITERARY LEGEND

What if Charles Dickens’ own life mirrored the ghostly tales he so vividly created? In WHAT THE DICKENS?, written by Clare Norburn and produced by The Telling, we’re thrust into a reality where the lines between Dickens’ celebrated works and his own troubled relationships blur. Through the clever lens of a disrupted reading of A Christmas Carol, this play invites us to delve into Dickens’ life and uncovers the many shadows he tried to keep hidden.

The play begins with Dickens preparing to give a reading of his famous Christmas story, only to be interrupted by a lively group of musicians hired by an absent Mr Dolby. This amusing chaos sets the tone for the slivers of humour that are woven through the production. The levity is short-lived, however, as the voice of Dickens’ father looms over the stage, and the ghost of Catherine Dickens, his wife, strides on stage as the Ghost of Christmas Past.

Dickens is immediately resistant to Catherine’s presence, much like Scrooge resisting the spirits in his tale. But Catherine manages to seize control of the narrative, determined to reflect Dickens’ life back at him – and at us – through the eyes of those who knew him best.

The first act takes us to 1821, guided by Catherine’s sharp and powerful perspective. We explore Dickens’ infatuations, his rocky marriage and his infidelity. The emotional climax of this act is an electrifying confrontation between Dickens and Catherine, where we see the lengths Dickens goes to gaslight and manipulate his wife in his quest for freedom to pursue his mistress, Ellen Ternen, or Nelly. 

In the second part, Nelly takes to the stage as the Ghost of Christmas Present, stepping into the spotlight just as Dickens tries to reassert control and resume his reading. Like Catherine, Nelly wants to share her story. Through her eyes, we witness the initial joy and later disillusionment of her relationship with Dickens. Nelly’s account shows us Dickens’ treatment of his ten children, exposing the harsher, Scrooge-like side of his character. 

Finally, the Ghost of Christmas Future emerges as a chilling and foreboding figure, showing the prolific writer what will happen to Catherine, Nelly and his children if he doesn’t turn things around and in turn, bringing the story to a conclusion. The way this spectre was presented was particularly impactful and frightening as it contrasted with the rest of the costumes, which fit the performance well and were evocative of Dickens’ time.

The script is exceptionally crafted, weaving humour, poignancy and sharp insights into a well-rounded picture of Dickens in a short amount of time. While seemingly rooted in historical truth and weighty rumour, it isn’t afraid to take liberties for dramatic impact, heightening the emotional weight of the women’s stories and giving them the voice they wouldn’t have had in Dickens’ era. Plus, in a poignant creative departure from traditional biography, Nelly is portrayed as giving birth to a daughter rather than the rumoured son. This choice shifts focus to the women in Dickens’ life even further and offers them more space to voice their experiences and reclaim the narrative.

The cast for this production was wonderful, with Clive Hayward delivering a convincing and layered portrayal of Dickens. The strength of the female performances truly stood out, too, giving Catherine and Nelly – played by Karen Ascoe and Rosalind Ford, respectively – the narrative power they would have been so often denied in life. Their voices transformed the play into a dynamic reckoning with Dickens’ legacy, peeling back the veneer of his literary success to reveal the flawed man beneath.

Including live musicians added depth and energy to the production, aiding transitions and enhancing the pace beautifully. WHAT THE DICKENS? is a hauntingly brilliant exploration of one of literature’s greatest figures. It masterfully intertwines fiction and reality, giving voice to the women overshadowed by Dickens’ fame. It was a powerful and thought-provoking piece of theatre that shouldn’t be missed – especially during the festive season.

Estelle Luck

All views are my own and I pride myself on being honest, fair and free from influence. Theatre is subjective and it is important to remember that all views expressed are just those of one person.

My ticket for this performance of What The Dickens? was gifted by The Telling who invited me to watch the show in exchange for my honest review. The fact that my ticket was gifted played no part in the content of my review or the star rating given.

RUN TIME (approx):

1 hour 10 minutes, with no interval