Bleak Expectations has ‘schoolboy surrealism and inoffensive silliness’ – evaluation

Based on Mark Evans’ Radio 4 parody of Charles Dickens, it is a genteel comedian romp via Victorian literary sorts.

Played with bright-eyed enthusiasm by a sterling solid, Caroline Leslie’s manufacturing stays trustworthy to the verbal pastiche and elaborate metaphors whereas including a contact of Feydeau-like farce to the bodily proceedings.

The manufacturing’s gimmick is the inclusion of visitor narrators all through the run and Robert Lindsay steps in on this event, enjoying to the gallery with adlibs and fluffing his traces with comedian aplomb.

Characters pop out and in of the magnificent set – a Victorian examine with a mountain of books and a portal-like grandfather clock – together with Pip Bin (Dom Hodson), Gently Benevolent (John Hopkins), a household of Hardthrashers (Marc Pickering, going above and past the decision of responsibility), and the aptly named Ripely Fecund (Rachel Summers) who can’t write a love letter with out having an orgasm.

Seasoned with schoolboy surrealism, its inoffensive silliness is sufficient to put a smile on the face of all however probably the most demanding theatregoer.

• Bleak Expectations , Criterion Theatre till September 3, Tickets: 033 33 202 895