Travel to the London of the Charles Dickens era as King’s Christian School presents Nicholas Nickleby.
Dickens’ third published novel, Nicholas Nickleby was an immediate and complete success and established Dickens’ lasting reputation.
Much of the action takes place in London, England where Dickens takes aim at what he perceives to be social injustices.
King’s Christian drama teacher Sandi Kutyn says she chose the play, in part, because of the number and quality of the characters.
“I have to find a speaking part for everyone because I want everyone to have a chance to perform,” she says, noting she needed at least 20 speaking parts this year.
“There’s some really fun character parts – a whole cast of lovable, half-mad, deluded, flamboyant characters.”
Kutyn says the play was chosen in February and the students have been rehearsing Nicholas Nickleby since the middle of March.
“The kids are having a ball with some of the crazy characters with lots of movement,” Kutyn says, noting the students have given the characters some quirks and physical characteristics of their own.
“It’s a parade of colourful characters – the infamous Wackford Squeers, who runs a dreadful boys school, the orphan Smike, who gets adopted by Nicolas Nickleby and the wicked Ralph Nickleby, out to make a dollar or a pound wherever he can.”
Kutyn says a very flamboyant theatrical troupe weaves its way throughout the play as well.
Costumes are custom made for King’s Christian productions, but are re-used as much as possible.
“There’s a pair of shoes from the thrift shop that we got five years ago,” she says. “It’s been in every production since. They’ve been green, and yellow for Chantecleer the rooster in The Canterbury Tales.”
Nicholas Nickleby opens at 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 22 to Saturday May 25 at Shuswap Theatre.
Tickets are $10 for adults and $6 for children and are available at the school office. Call 250-832-5200.
