Charles Dickens fans will be excited to know that tonight, a new three-hour adaptation of Oliver Twist will air on PBS, starting at 9PM EST, followed by three other Dickens adaptions in the coming months. Many familiar actors are involved:
“The Tales of Charles Dickens” opens with a three-hour Oliver Twist (Sunday and Feb. 22, 9 ET/PT, check local listings). Three other Dickens’ productions will follow: a two-part David Copperfield (March); a five-episode Little Dorrit (March 29 to April 26) and The Old Curiosity Shop (May 3). All but Copperfield, which features Daniel Radcliffe, Bob Hoskins, Maggie Smith and Ian McKellen, are new productions.
HT to Arabella Figg in the comments at HogPro.
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{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Charles Dickens walks into a bar and asks for a martini.
The bartender asks him, “Olive or Twist”?
Sorry, Travis, I should have also posted the news here. Glad you got it.
Caught a bit of it by accident – was channel surfing on an unfamiliar tv looking for the sports channel (exciting hockey earlier in the day which I’d missed). Caught Timothy Spall doing a credible Fagin and watched for a few minutes. Good Fagin, but physically didn’t match my image. Also, the script took too many liberties with the book. I may have missed it in the book, but I don’t remember Oliver threatening Bill Sykes with a knife before being taken hostage by him on his trek through the countryside.
So I Googled the production, and this is what I found:’
Kate Harwood, BBC Head of Drama Series & Serial says: This production will have a modern edge; a darkly thrilling, joyous treat for the viewers.”
and:
“Oliver Twist is a fresh take on a much loved and familiar favourite, and remains true to the spirit of the book,” says writer, Sarah Phelps.
You know what – Dickens is one of the best dramatic – actually melodramatic – writers of all time. He was “edgy” and “darkly thrilling” 150 years before any BBC hack writer even knew what those words meant.
Grant me patience.