Plays and Players, February 1995, by Pat Peryer.
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Matthew Francis' adaptation of this Dickens' classic is a 
very fine affair. The set, designed by Julian McGowan, is an 
exciting amalgamation of the inside/outside of buildings or 
a stage coach, set in France or England, all as desired. The 
full width and height of the stage has been utilised and a 
lot goes on simultaneously with lights picking out the 
relevant action. Much use is made of the trap door at the 
front of the stage. Sound from all around conjures up the 
arrival of the stage coach in the opening scene. Somehow, it 
is reminiscent of "Les Miserables."

Eleanor Tremaine made a charming Lucie Manette and Julian 
Forsythe was excellent as Dr. Manette. So why, then, was it 
so difficult to follow the story, especially in the first 
act? With the action flashing back and forth between France 
and England, and the actors playing several parts each, the 
audience need their wits about them to keep abreast. 
Narration from the characters does help the story move along 
and saves a lot of dialogue. Later, nevertheless, I dug up a 
copy of the novel to remind myself of the story - something 
wrong there!

Disembodied heads become very useful, not only as fuel for 
Madam Guillotine but also to provide more spectators when 
required. Talking of heads, there are some very peculiar 
wigs in evidence, especially on the heads of St. Evremonde 
and his brother! At least the heads of Charles Darnay 
(Alexis Denishof [sic]) and Sydney Carton (Timothy Carter) 
are enough alike to bring the story to it's [sic] happy and 
heroic conclusion - even if they are not enough alike to 
persuade Lucie to fall for Sydney.

A very powerful production and worth seeing - but brush up 
on your Dickens first!



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