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A Night with Dicken's Women and Miriam Margolyes

Miriam Margolyes’ engaging and witty one-woman show, “Dickens Women,” is a revealing portrait of one history’s greatest writers. The play begins with the calming piano introduction of John Martin. However, it is abruptly interrupted by Miriam Margolyes who bursts on stage as the hilarious, alcoholic nurse, Sarah Gamp from “Martin Chuzzlewit.” From there, Miriam Margolyes chronicles Charles Dickens' life and pays homage to the women in his writing.

Miriam Margolyes’ passion for Dickens’ work came out in every character she portrays. However, her aim was to “oblige” his daughter Kate, who wished that the great author be presented as more than his common public persona of a "jolly, jocose gentleman." Margolyes takes note of Dickens' fixation on seventeen-year-old girls. She explains that it stemmed from the death of his sister-in-law, Mary Hogarth, who died in his arms at the age of seventeen. I was impressed when Margolyes candidly declared, "I find them all rather icky, actually ... for obvious reasons." Magroyles enacts a scene between little Nell, one of Dickens’ many seventeen year-old-girls, and Mrs. Jarley from “The Curiosity Shop. ”The writing contains the same quirkiness and clever word play Dickens was famous for, while treating the women in works with more dignity and complexity.

In her attention-grabbing Oxford accent, Margolyes describes Dickens’ early life of poverty, and his interactions with the older women around him. He held grudges against the women who had mistreated or rejected him in youth. As a result, he would create unpleasant characters based on them, such as the cold intimidating Estella. However, the best part of the play is when Margolyes is putting her own twist on Dickens’ characters, effortlessly changing her accent and entire persona. Her rapid-fire movements from one seat to the other as she played both the awkward Miss Corney and the crude Mr. Bumble from “Oliver Twist” are a joy to watch. Her use of pitch and language brought to life on stage, characters that Dickens first gave life to on the page.

Charles Dickens 

Miriam Margolyes also captures the depth and pathos in Dickens’ work as well. As she read excerpts from “Great Expectations,” Pips first and second meeting with Miss Havisham, her performance is haunting and mesmerizing.

Her most intense monologue was that of Miss Wade from Little Dorrit and Miss Flyte from Bleak House. Margolyes captures a world weariness and cynicism in the lonely Miss Wade, and the desperate sense of longing in the confused elderly spinster, Miss Flyte. Miriam Margolyes has the ability to bring characters to life in a way that you momentarily believe different people have appeared on stage.

Miriam Margolyes’ confidence and power on the stage especially shine through during these scenes. Margolyes captures the charm; quirkiness and poignancy that have made Dickens’ work so enduring. It renewed my appreciation for the talents of both Charles Dickens and Miriam Margolyes.

Cartoonish

I see the term “cartoonish” among movie and literary critics so often, I’m starting to feel that it’s losing  meaning from overuse.

When depicting a story based on real events, critics will call its authenticity into question if a person in the story is too kind, or too terrible. Unrealistic and exaggerated traits happen in fiction; real life people also can, and often do, come in extremes. The criticism, cartoonish, loses weight when you consider two things. One, that Donald Trump exists, and two; the secondary players in a narrative about a real person’s life must be restricted to an easily identifiable role.

 For example, in Eddie the Eagle, the officials who want to deny Eddie’s entry into the Winter Olympics, are the stuffy and arrogant road blocks in the way of Eddie’s dreams. Were these men more than just haughty snobs too set in their ways to encourage something new and unusual?  Of course, they were. They had their own histories, and families. However, they are reduced to the role of conservative naysayers because that’s the role they played in Eddie’s story.

The fact is, we all project an image that might make us seem two-dimensional to the people we meet throughout our own story.  We might play the role of boss, tired check out attendant, ruffled customer or patient teacher. Sometimes, you need a character that approaches caricature to highlight the main character’s story. The key thing is to ensure that you central characters are well-rounded, so their interactions with the other characters feel real.

Hidden Figures

Yesterday, I saw the critically acclaimed film based on a true story, Hidden Figures. Set during the space race between the USA and Russia during the 1960s, the film focuses on the lives and achievement of three African-American women Katherine Goble, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson.  This is the untold story of the brilliant minds behind some of the greatest achievements in NASA, including sending astronaut John Glenn into space.

Bold and honest, Hidden Figures is a story with genuine heart and an impassioned message. The audience is introduced to Katherine Goble as a girl with a gift for math and infinite potential in the field, before propelling us into the movie’s main timeline.  Katherine and her co-workers social limitations are referenced lightly as they make quips about their forced position at the back of a bus.

The adult Katherine is performed with striking intensity by Taraji P. Henson, drawing a sense of empathy from the viewer as she stumbles through an often hostile work environment.  Montages such as Katherine’s daily, half a mile walk from her workplace to the “coloured bathrooms” highlights the everyday inequalities in society.

The prolonged effort and hurt conveyed in Taraji Henson’s acting, results in a powerful release challenging the people around her not to unthinkingly accept these policies. The frequently repeated phrase, “that’s just the way things are,” is challenged in many ways throughout the movie. The film isn’t the least bit subtle about drawing parallels between NASA breaking down scientific barriers, and these women breaking down social barriers. However, the movie tells this little-known story with such passion, that its directness is actually welcome.

From left to right: Janelle Monae, Taraji P. Henson and Octavia Spencer

Towards the end of the movie, the pace starts to lag somewhat because of a heavy focus on the technical aspects of the NASA flights. However, the touching and fun dynamic between the three leads keeps the audience engaged. Octavia Spencer portrays the unbendable Dorothy Vaughan with quiet self-assurance. Singer and newcomer to the silver-screen, Janelle Monae brings a wit and strength to potential mechanical engineer Mary Jackson.  Together with Taraji Henson, they move the plot forward with determination and smarts.

Hidden Figures is a no-nonsense, bold and uplifting tale that brings to light the struggles and achievements of people who were treated with little dignity or respect. This movie is looks at a time in the past, but is still painfully relevant. It’s a powerful cinematic experience, and I highly recommend it.