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Great Expectations

Adapted from the novel by Charles Dickens

  • Shaan Sharma & Angie Fisher
    Photos courtesy of Barter Theatre

  • James Hendley, Sarah Van Deusen, & Shaan Sharma
    Photos courtesy of Barter Theatre

  • Brandy Drzymkowski, Sarah Van Deusen, Rusty Allen, & Shaan Sharma
    Photos courtesy of Barter Theatre

  • Rusty Allen
    Photos courtesy of Barter Theatre

  • Shaan Sharma & Brandy Drzymkowski
    Photos courtesy of Barter Theatre

  • Sarah Van Deusen & Shaan Sharma
    Photos courtesy of Barter Theatre

  • James Hendley
    Photos courtesy of Barter Theatre

  • Shaan Sharma
    Photos courtesy of Barter Theatre

  • James Hendley, Brandy Drzymkowski, Shaan Sharma, Sarah Van Deusen, & Rusty Allen
    Photos courtesy of Barter Theatre

  • Shaan Sharma & Angie Fisher
    Photos courtesy of Barter Theatre

  • Brandy Drzymkowski & Shaan Sharma
    Photos courtesy of Barter Theatre

  • James Hendley
    Photos courtesy of Barter Theatre

  • Rusty Allen, Angie Fisher, & Shaan Sharma
    Photos courtesy of Barter Theatre

  • Shaan Sharma, Rusty Allen, Angie Fisher, Brandy Drzymkowski, James Hendley, & Sarah Van Deusen
    Photos courtesy of Barter Theatre

  • Shaan Sharma & Angie Fisher
    Photos courtesy of Barter Theatre

  • Rusty Allen & Shaan Sharma
    Photos courtesy of Barter Theatre

  • Angie Fisher
    Photos courtesy of Barter Theatre

  • Shaan Sharma & Brandy Drzymkowski
    Photos courtesy of Barter Theatre

  • Angie Fisher, James Hendley, Rusty Allen, & Sarah Van Deusen
    Photos courtesy of Barter Theatre

Synopsis

After a chance encounter in the graveyard with an escaped convict, the young orphan Pip begins a journey that takes him from his impoverished village to life as a London gentleman. Along the way, he meets the eccentric Miss Havisham and her ward, the beautiful, haughty Estella, with whom he falls in love. Determined to prove he is worthy of her, Pip strives to meet his great expectations – only to realize a downfall that teaches him the truth about himself… and Life.

Cast

Phillip "Pip" Pirrip a poor young man; lives near the marshes of Kent
Magwitch an escaped convict
Joe Gargery a blacksmith and Pip’s brother-in-law; heart of gold
Mrs. Joe Pip’s older sister; harsh and resentful
Uncle Pumblechook Pip's great-uncle; a blowhard
Miss Havisham a wealthy older woman who lives in town; eccentric
Estella Miss Havisham's ward; spoiled and cruel
Biddy a friend of Pip’s; teaches him to read
Mr. Jaggers a lawyer in London; wears an eyepatch
Herbert Pocket Pip’s best friend in London
Matthew Pocket Herbert Pocket, Pip's tutor
Clara Herbert's love
Bentley Drummle Pip's rival for Estella; a boor
Compeyson Magwitch’s former partner in crime
Father Miss Havisham’s father, seen in flashback
Soldier #1 arrests Compeyson and Magwitch on the marshes
Soldier #2
Soldier #3

Specs

Cast Size: 6 (3m, 3w) with doubling
Approximate Run Time: 1h 20m
Number of Acts: One
Script Sample
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Production History

Great Expectations was first produced in 2017 by The Barter Players (Abingdon, VA), Katy Brown, Artistic Director

Produced in 2018 by Barter Theatre (Abingdon, VA), Richard Rose, Producing Artistic Director

Casting Notes:
Actor 1: Pip
Actor 2: Compeyson/Estella/Matthew Pocket
Actor 3: Mrs. Joe/Biddy/Soldier #2/Servant
Actor 4 Joe/Uncle Pumblechook/Father/Bentley Drummle/Soldier #3
Actor 5: Magwitch/Mr. Jaggers/Clara
Actor 6: Soldier #1/Miss Havisham/Herbert



Reviews

"... a one-act masterpiece."

"This is a fantastic production for those of us who love Dickens, for those of you who hate or think you hate Dickens, and for audiences of all ages."
Robert McKinney, Bristol Herald Courier
Cast Size: 6 (3m, 3w) with doubling
Approximate Run Time: 1h 20m
Number of Acts: One
Script Sample
Request Rights

Synopsis

After a chance encounter in the graveyard with an escaped convict, the young orphan Pip begins a journey that takes him from his impoverished village to life as a London gentleman. Along the way, he meets the eccentric Miss Havisham and her ward, the beautiful, haughty Estella, with whom he falls in love. Determined to prove he is worthy of her, Pip strives to meet his great expectations – only to realize a downfall that teaches him the truth about himself… and Life.

Cast

Phillip "Pip" Pirrip
a poor young man; lives near the marshes of Kent
Magwitch
an escaped convict
Joe Gargery
a blacksmith and Pip’s brother-in-law; heart of gold
Mrs. Joe
Pip’s older sister; harsh and resentful
Uncle Pumblechook
Pip's great-uncle; a blowhard
Miss Havisham
a wealthy older woman who lives in town; eccentric
Estella
Miss Havisham's ward; spoiled and cruel
Biddy
a friend of Pip’s; teaches him to read
Mr. Jaggers
a lawyer in London; wears an eyepatch
Herbert Pocket
Pip’s best friend in London
Matthew Pocket
Herbert Pocket, Pip's tutor
Clara
Herbert's love
Bentley Drummle
Pip's rival for Estella; a boor
Compeyson
Magwitch’s former partner in crime
Father
Miss Havisham’s father, seen in flashback
Soldier #1
arrests Compeyson and Magwitch on the marshes
Soldier #2
Soldier #3
Casting Notes:
Actor 1: Pip
Actor 2: Compeyson/Estella/Matthew Pocket
Actor 3: Mrs. Joe/Biddy/Soldier #2/Servant
Actor 4 Joe/Uncle Pumblechook/Father/Bentley Drummle/Soldier #3
Actor 5: Magwitch/Mr. Jaggers/Clara
Actor 6: Soldier #1/Miss Havisham/Herbert


Reviews

"... a one-act masterpiece."

"This is a fantastic production for those of us who love Dickens, for those of you who hate or think you hate Dickens, and for audiences of all ages."
Robert McKinney, Bristol Herald Courier

Production History

Great Expectations was first produced in 2017 by The Barter Players (Abingdon, VA), Katy Brown, Artistic Director

Produced in 2018 by Barter Theatre (Abingdon, VA), Richard Rose, Producing Artistic Director
Script Sample
Request Rights
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