Haunting Literary and Theater Experience in "Great Expectations"

By Barbara Courtney

I am very excited about this project, not only because Great Expectations is one of those classics that left a huge, haunting imprint on me when I first read it in high school, but because it will be a terrific literary and theatre experience for our community. 

I first became acquainted with director Jane Jones several years ago, when she co-directed an adaptation of John Irving’s Cider House Rules. It was among my top 10 theatrical experiences of all time.

What Jane and her co-director, Tom Hulce, helped the actors to create was living, breathing literature on the stage. They demanded simplicity and honesty from the actors working on an almost bare stage, and the result was captivating, touching theatre. The actors spoke much of the novel’s narration, providing viewer with both the character’s and a more central voice, that of storyteller. 

This is the style of Book-It Repertory Theatre, which Jane co-founded and continues to drive in its mission to bring great literature to the stage. Book-It has adapted and staged a wide range of work, from classics to contemporary novels.

Orcas audiences have enjoyed previous examples of Book-It’s work — past Kids’ Fest events have included Kipling’s Jungle Books and My Father’s Dragon, and Sweet Thursday by John Steinbeck was directed by another Book-It company member, Suzannah Burney, using local actors. I believe Great Expectations will not disappoint, so folks should look forward to it with great anticipation.