Great Expectations
SYNOPSIS for Great Expectations
In Great Expectations we are taken into the world of 19th-century England. Packed with curious and fascinating characters, enchanting and dangerous places and situations that are at once exhilarating and horrifying, Great Expectations is a literary gem. Pip, an orphan boy, has a life-changing encounter one day on the moors when he helps an escaped convict named Magwitch by getting him food and a file for his leg irons. From this one act of kindness, Pip starts on a journey to manhood that is full of twists and turns. He dreams of being a gentleman, and miraculously an opportunity is presented that allows him to bring his dream to life. By inheriting a large sum of money, Pip advances in society and all of his expectations seem to come true, but in a way that is, at once, mysterious and disturbing. Ultimately, Pip learns some important lessons about love, forgiveness and redemption. This story is full of surprises, and Dickens masterfully guides us through a world of shadow and light to an ending both poignant and satisfying as Pip realizes his great expectations.
REVIEWS for Great Expectations
“[A] flawless adaptation ... The show is a stunner on every level.”
— Chicago Sun-Times
“If you have any regard for Classical Literature and the theatrical production thereof, I implore you to treat yourself to this show once or twice. Script, direction, casting, performance and tech are each remarkable renditions of their kind. The beautiful language is retained, but made perfectly clear by action and diction. Additionally, it's heartily funny. It's been some time since I've enjoyed a show so very completely in every aspect.”
— Broadway World
“HIGHLY RECOMMENDED... What makes the crucial difference in Strawdog Theatre's magnificent production of Great Expectations – easily among the finest shows of the year – is that its supremely gifted ensemble of six actors not only captures all the superficial qualities of Dickens' marvelous characters (and they play about 40 of them), but they furrow deep into their hearts and souls. The many individual quirks are unquestionably amusing, revealing and richly theatrical, but there is something far greater going on here. Along with Gale Childs Daly's flawless adaptation and Jason W. Gerace's diamond-cut direction, it is this emotional undertow that makes this production soar. The show is a stunner on every level.”
— Chicago Sun-Times
“Great Expectations: With hefty assists from adapter Gale Childs Daly, a splendid design team and a solid Milwaukee Chamber Theatre ensemble, director Molly Rhode delivered a thrillingly theatrical production that would have made Dickens proud.”
— Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
“The cast is stunning!”
— Broadway World
“Great Expectations is a faithful condensation of this enduring saga of identity, fate, sacrifice and generosity, and it draws brilliantly on the multi-role talents of its small cast.”
— Rousuck, WYPR Maryland NPR News
(click here to listen to the full review)
“...engaging, entertaining, and enlightening.”
— Mark Cofta, CityPaper
“Packed with curious and fascinating characters, enchanting and dangerous places and situations that are at once exhilarating and horrifying, Gale Childs Daly’s new adaptation brings the Dickens literary gem to fascinating life...”
— NHTP
“Daly has such a basic understanding of who each of these characters are that her adaptation allows the six actors to find common ground and move the piece along like Dickens himself wrote it for this precise ensemble group.”
— Michael Roberts, Showbiz Chicago
“[a] surprising and brilliant adaptation... Daly and Rhode have combined to put on a stage a production that won't soon be forgotten.”
— OnMilwaukee (click here to see the full review)
“Everyman Theatre’s production of Great Expectations brings this classic piece of literature to life. It is a production people will remember for some time. Make sure you are one of the lucky people who saw it, not one of those who regret having missed it.”
— DC Metro Theater Arts
(click here to see the full review)
“★★★1⁄2 If you're tired of the mutterings of old Ebenezer and yet still crave some of that Dickensian moral pudding, then consider the unexpected sleeper of a new show at the Strawdog Theatre. Therein, six fine actors tell the multi-character tale ... Gale Childs Daly's exceptional new adaptation is uncommonly tight and suspenseful. With their multiple plots, Dickens novels often are tough to adapt. This one keeps the storytelling, and the hero, front and center. Truly, it's a riveting cutting and shaping that is never dull for a moment. Much of that is due to Jason Gerace's direction; the staging hardly is pretentious, but the stakes are thrillingly high throughout.”
— Chicago Tribune
“Milwaukee Chamber Theatre tackles Great Expectations with a vengeance. .. This is what great literature is all about.”
— TotalTheater.com
“Daly effectively pulls out the vital moments of Pip's journey. Her scissor-sharp dialogue keeps conversation on point. She scrapes away lengthy narrative to get to the heart of the matter.”
— Katy Walsh, ChicagoNow
“Like all successful moved-to-stage adaptations, Gale Childs Daly's translation of the Charles Dickens classic embraced the spirit of the source while rendering it freshly revelatory.”
— Suzanne Scanlon, Chicago Reader
“Everyman Theatre’s Great Expectations is a ‘Must-See.’”
— DC Metro Theater Arts (click here to see the full review)
“ingeniously staged ... a fully realized world”
— Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (click here to see the full review)
“The ensemble switches seamlessly from character to character with the help of a costume pice or prop.”
— Lisa Buscani, NewCity Chicago
“Playwright, director, teacher and actor Gale Childs Daly has done a brilliant job of adapting one of Charles Dickens’ most beloved novels, Great Expectations, for the stage. This seemingly Herculean task is even more impressive since she utilizes only six actors to play 35 characters and condenses the sprawling novel into a two-hour production. Daly also nicely balances the tragedy, humor and hope in this coming-of-age story without losing the essential elements of Dickens’ tale. ... a production that captivates and engages with the help of a hugely talented cast and creative team.”
— MD Theatre Guide (click here to see the full review)
“An entrancing theatrical piece to exceed even our greatest expectations.”
— Nicholas Ryan, Phindie
“... incredible acting, a brilliant story, and amazing sets.”
— Broadway World
“I had my own ‘Great Expectations’ of this production, having heard from several sources just how good it was, and I wasn’t disappointed. What makes this adaptation by Gale Childs Daly so intriguing is that well over 30 characters and five narrators are played by just six actors, seamlessly moving from character to character with confidence.”
— David Cradduck, Winchester Today
“Milwaukee playwright Gale Childs Daly's bold reinvention of the beloved Dickens novel is a suspenseful, fast-paced theatrical treat!”
— Milwaukee Chamber Theatre
“The novel had its origins as a magazine serial, delivered by Dickens as a series of episodes. Child's rendition makes its way to Minnesota after mountings in Chicago, Milwaukee, Baltimore and Syracuse. She has trimmed the plot down, omitting some third-tier characters and storylines, or in some cases referring to them without putting them on stage, so that the lengthy book—541 pages when published in 1861—attains the feel of a page-turning graphic novel. If this sometimes comes at the expense of nuance and depth, it utterly holds our interest with clear storytelling, ingenious staging and engaging characters.”
— Talkin’ Broadway (click here to see the full review)
“BEST PLAYS TO SEE IN CHICAGO NOW!”
— Time Out Chicago (click here for more)
“★★★★★ ... The venerable storefront ensemble's new adaptation of Dickens's Great Expectations, performed by six actors, is an unexpected pleasure ... Daly's lithe adaptation smartly trims Dickens's expansive plot and cast without feeling like it sacrifices too much. It's a great pleasure watching strong young Chicago talents ... embody numerous characters, transmuting in front of you ... Strawdog's compelling production greatly exceeds expectations.”
— Time Out Chicago
“A production that captivates and engages.”
— MD Theatre Guide
“Milwaukee-based Gale Childs Daly's exceptional new adaptation is uncommonly tight and suspenseful.”
— Hartford Courant
“Playwright/adapter Gale Childs Daly has ripped up the novel and reassembled it with mathematical expertise ... There is not a weak link.”
— Urban Milwaukee
“Rhode’s and Childs Daly’s approach puts the actors front and center, and the MCT cast builds the world of the story with energy and charm.”
— Milwaukee Magazine
“Gale Childs Daly's joyously theatrical adaptation of Charles Dickens' coming-of-age masterpiece uses six actors to play almost 40 characters.”
— Lawrence Bommer, Stage and Cinema
“A Magical Evening.”
— DC Metro Theater Arts
(click here to see the full review)
“This play was funny and dramatic just in the correct balance.”
— Clare Kosinski, Chicago Theatre Review
“Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations at Everyman Theatre is a brand new take on an old classic. It’s refreshing, entertaining, and accessible that it opens up to a new generation that may have otherwise let it sit on the bookshelf to collect dust. This adaptation handles the many subplots and twists beautifully with a perfect blend of old-fashioned story-telling and re-enactment while the production itself is well thought-out...”
— Backstage Baltimore
(click here to see the full review)
“Syracuse Stage's Dickens adaptation lives up to 'great expectations. ... has the power to renew your sense of humanity”
— syracuse.com
“Storytelling at its best! Don't miss this amazing show!!!”
— Laurel Vincentio, The Edge Theatre Review
“Beautifully wrought production... satisfyingly entertaining!”
— Meghan Grumbling, Portland Phoenix
“With so many productions of Great Expectations over the years, there’s a danger that the story can become tiresome, but Dickens’ tale of social class, wealth, love and rejection is still relevant today and shows just why he’s considered one of the greatest novelists. It’s an engaging and visually impressive production that stays true to the original story while capturing the imagination, and it’s great to see Dickens’ work appealing to new audiences. A creative and captivating take on the classic story, with strong performances from the cast.”
— WhatsOnStage (click here to see the full review)
AWARDS for Great Expectations
JEFFERSON AWARDS
WINNER! – 2014 Best Director – Strawdog Theatre – Jason Gerace
2014 Non-Equity Jefferson Nominee
Nominated for:
Best Production, Best Ensemble, Best Lighting Design, Best Director
UPCOMING PRODUCTIONS for Great Expectations
Stay tuned...
PREVIOUS PRODUCTIONS for Great Expectations
Mercury Theatre Company
Colchester, UK, Spring 2023
Great River Shakespeare Festival
Winona, MN, Summer 2021
Masquerade Theatre
Riverside, NJ, Winter 2020
Town Hall Theatre
Lafayette, CA, Winter 2018
Everyman Theatre
Baltimore, Maryland, Spring 2017
Maskers Theatre Company
Southampton, UK, Spring 2017
Chamber Theatre
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Spring 2017
Syracuse Stage
Syracuse, NY, Spring 2016
New Hampshire Theater Project
Portsmouth, NH, Fall 2016
Strawdog Theatre Company
Chicago, Illinois, Fall 2014
Arden Theatre Company
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Fall 2014
PCPA Theaterfest
Santa Maria, CA, 1992 World Premiere
PURCHASE A SCRIPT for Great Expectations
Published By Dramatic Publishing Company