Ohio Shakespeare's 'Nicholas Nickleby' an epic Dickens tale audiences rarely get to see

They weren't kidding when they said Charles Dickens' "Nicholas Nickleby" is an epic story.

"The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby," now playing at Ohio Shakespeare Festival in Akron, is a 1980 stage adaptation of the Dickens classic. This Victorian tale set in London follows young hero Nicholas as he overcomes poverty and abuse and prevails against evil.

The drama also has comedy, intrigue and romance.

In this 1830s story, Nicholas (Geoff Knox), his sister and his mother are left penniless after his father dies, so they seek the aid of a wealthy uncle Ralph Nickleby. The ruthless Ralph sends Nicholas to work at a boarding school in Yorkshire, where Nicholas clashes with the cruel, abusive headmaster Squeers and befriends the young disabled Smike.

Large production relies on strong ensemble work

Precise ensemble work is a key part of what makes this gargantuan play, which is rarely produced, happen. Associate Artistic Director Tess Burgler, said "Nicholas Nickleby" is one of the biggest, most ambitious shows that Ohio Shakespeare has produced in 23 years.

Director Nancy Cates' Akron cast features 25 actors who play more than 100 roles total, with most portraying four or five characters each. That requires some careful choreography with the actors quickly changing scenes on the theater's small thrust stage.

Among those actors is Northfield resident Derrick Winger, who's in his 12th season as an Ohio Shakespeare company member. He plays five roles, including narrating, and also portrays several background Londoners in the drama.

"All of us have to work like a finely tuned machine. You can't drop the ball on anything," Winger said of the cast. "Just changing the sets in and out with that much traffic going on the stage, off the stage, and having to move quickly enough to keep the pace going of the show, it's quite the endeavor.

"It requires a ton of focus and a ton of energy," the actor said.

Everyone in the cast narrates at some point in the play.

"We're all working together as an ensemble to bring this story to life and that kind of accentuates that," Winger said of sharing the narration.

He starts out as a coachman and next plays merchant John Browdie of Yorkshire, who helps Nicholas along the way. In Winger's other named roles, he portrays a villain named Handsaw and an actor named Folair in an acting company that Nicholas and Smike join.

Folair is a comedic part for Winger, as the merry players in this show's play within a play create their own comical ending for "Romeo and Juliet."

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Winger has enjoyed the challenge of diving out of multiple characters and changing their accents and body language. His characters come from different social classes and their costumes reflect those classes, which helps him create distinct characters.

Among the characters' distinct accents, Browdie's "country bumpkin" Yorkshire accent is a new one for Winger. Equity cast member Steve Marvel coached the actor on the Yorkshire accent, which Winger said was fairly difficult to learn.

At the other end of the spectrum, Winger assumes a posh, upper-crust accent as Handsaw.

Winger said performing in the rarely produced show is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

"It's an epic undertaking," he said.

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Truncated version of 'Nicholas Nickleby'

This version of David Edgar's stage adaptation is a truncated one he created in 2006. The original show, which ran 8½ hours, premiered in London in 1980 and was presented over two evenings, the first night running four hours and the second night four hours and 30 minutes. It also ran in its entirety from early afternoon, with a dinner break.

The full-length, original play won two Tony Awards in 1982 for best play and best lead actor in a play on Broadway. It was revived on Broadway in 1986, followed by a national tour.

Great Lakes Theatre Festival, formerly called Great Lakes Shakespeare Festival, produced the full-length version of "Nicholas Nickleby" in Cleveland in 1982 and 1983.

The truncated play staged by Ohio Shakespeare Festival, which is in three acts, runs for four hours and 15 minutes, including two, 10-minutes intermissions. The first act runs an hour and 15 minutes while the second runs 57 minutes and the third runs an hour and 43 minutes.

"We're not gonna be too apologetic about it," Winger said of the long run time. "The story will draw you in enough that you won't mind the time.

"If you're familiar with the story, if you're not familiar with it, it should be easy to follow and understand and enjoy. It's an epic tale of someone's life."

Ohio Shakespeare Festival's website explains that "The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby" hails back to times when a night at the theater lasted much longer than contemporary audiences are used to. Because of this, the theater is offering audience members some flexibility.

Theatergoers are welcome to enjoy half the show one night and return on another evening to see the rest of the story. For information on how that option works, guests can talk to house manager John Peters in the lobby at the show, call him at 330-574-2537 or email johnpeters@ohioshakespeare.com.

Arts and restaurant writer Kerry Clawson may be reached at 330-996-3527 or kclawson@thebeaconjournal.com.

Details

Play: "The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby"

When: Continuing through March 17, 8 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sunday

Where: Ohio Shakespeare Festival, Greystone Hall, 103 S High St., Akron

Onstage: Starring Geoff Knox, Nate Hoyle, Brian Pedaci, Kelsey Tomlinson, Michele McNeal, Jim Fippin, Natalie Steen

Offstage: Nancy Cates, director; Cam Henderson, stage manager; Ryan Zarecki, fight director; Nancy Humes, costume designer; Mary LaConte and Kelsey Tomlinson, assistant costume designers; Natalie Steen, set design; Wittman Sullivan, lighting design; Mark Stoffer, composer; Ryan Zarecki and Kendra Schaefer, properties

Information: ohioshakespearefestival.com or 330-574-2537

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Rare Dickens show 'Nicholas Nickleby' at Ohio Shakespeare Festival in Akron