The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby

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The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby

Posted: 5/25/13 at 9:01pm

Many years ago, The Royal Shakespeare Company, blew Broadway away with their 8 hour production of, Nicholas Nickleby. I was fortunate enough to see this historic and legendary production. Its time for a revival.

The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby

Posted: 5/25/13 at 9:25pm

We all balked at the $100 ticket prices back then. Can you imagine how outlandish admission would be nowadays?

"Long live God!" (GODSPELL)

The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby

Posted: 5/25/13 at 9:37pm

Still probably less than the $400+ that The Book of Mormon charges for many of their seats.

Yes, $100 was very costly than, but it was 8 hours, so it was like seeing 4 shows. And, after having seen it, it was well worth every penny.

Dollypop... did you splurge and see it? It truly was magnificent.

The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby

Posted: 5/25/13 at 9:58pm

And so wonderfully for us, a video version was made.

If anyone ever tells you that you put too much Parmesan cheese on your pasta, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.

The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby

Posted: 5/25/13 at 10:18pm

My boxed laserdisc set of Nicholas Nickelby is one of the few remaining reasons I have not thrown out my laserdisc player.

The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby

Posted: 5/25/13 at 10:49pm

ah... so now some of us have aged ourselves. I'm pleased that those who have added to this post remember this production so fondly. It truly was glorious.

The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby

Posted: 5/25/13 at 11:51pm

I have a t-shirt that one of the cast members gave me back in college. It's packed away somewhere.

"TheatreDiva90016 - another good reason to frequent these boards less."<<>> “I hesitate to give this line of discussion the validation it so desperately craves by perpetuating it, but the light from logic is getting further and further away with your every successive post.” <<>> -whatever2

The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby

Posted: 5/26/13 at 2:30am

One of my most I-wish-I'd been-old-enough-to-see-it-live shows. I have VT from the original TV broadcast, a DVD version (currently lent to a friend) and a couple of signed books/magazines. I was also lucky enough to attend an anniversary talk given by some of the original cast in Stratford In 2011. I've seen a couple of stage very creditable stage productions but I'd have given anything to have seen the original.

The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby

Posted: 5/26/13 at 2:57am

It was an amazing experience made even better by the focus and enthusiasm of the audience. I still get a little choked up when I remember how we cheered when Nicholas took the switch to Squeers. You don't commit to an eight hour play unless you're really interested, and a lot of people were! It was difficult to get a ticket, and I remember one man outside the theatre holding up a sign saying he would pay $250 to anyone willing to sell.

#10

The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby

Posted: 5/26/13 at 9:46am

My favorite show for many years. I saw it, loved it...it actually changed my life. I bought the video set, and the DVD set. It was already revived about five years later...subbing a blond cast with Michael Siberry. Loved it too, but not quite as before. I highly recommend the DVD...though feel its too cost prohibitive to be revived today on Broadway.

#11

The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby

Posted: 5/26/13 at 10:27am

I saw the original Broadway production on its final day. I recall sitting next to a woman in the theatre who flew in that morning from Los Angeles and was flying back right after the show ended. I remember at intermission going to Sardi's as it was one of the restaurants that got you in and out during the hour dinner break.

I also saw the revival that was done several years later that I believe was not as successful but enjoyed it just the same.

"I hope your Fanny is bigger than my Peter." Mary Martin to Ezio Pinza opening night of Fanny.

#12

The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby

Posted: 5/26/13 at 11:14am

Interesting that this thread started. I watched the original when it was broadcast on PBS. I was riveted and it was very instrumental in making me want so much to be a part of the theatre world. Last week I bumped into Roger Rees. I was a bit nervous but I just decided, what the heck, and walked up to him and thanked him for being a big part of that decision. He was flattered and chatted with me for a bit. It kind of felt like coming full circle. Very nice man. And still very handsome!

Just give the world Love. - S. Wonder

#13

The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby

Posted: 5/26/13 at 2:58pm

Mr. Rees was clearly inspired by his experiences working on Nicholas Nickleby when directing, Peter and the Star Catcher so many years later. On ebay, I recently found the DVDs. I own the VHS tapes, but wanted a clearer picture and my VHS player is no longer even hooked up. Sadly, the DVDs seem edited differently (this may be my imagination) and there is this annoying replaying of the curtain call after each section. I also don't remember the performance being divided into these sections. It seems that this was done for the TV airing. Ugh!

#14

The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby

Posted: 5/26/13 at 3:21pm

I saw it when it played at the Ahmanson in LA, one of my favorite theatre experiences ever. I still have my original red T-shirts that I bought. This thread has inspired me to put it on and I'm wearing it as I type this post.

#15

The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby

Posted: 5/26/13 at 3:38pm

I'm pleased to bring back the memories of this truly spectacular production. I would love to see this revived, and although I understand that the running costs make this prohibitive, I don't think it impossible.

Or, if we're not to see this return, let this be inspiration for current and future artists to think big and outside of the box. Nicholas Nickleby was a huge spectacle. The physical production was impressive, but its "magic" wasn't the technology of special effects, but the entire creative team trusting the willingness and imagination of their audiences.

Updated On: 5/26/13 at 03:38 PM

#16

The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby

Posted: 5/26/13 at 4:20pm

I regret not being able to justify spending the $100 the first time it played on Broadway, but promptly plunking down my money when it came back with Michael Sibery 5 years later. A transformational piece of theater like others on here have said.

I think that's why I was so in love with Peter and the Starcatchers both on Bway and off this past year-- a perfect inheritor of the Nickleby pedigree co-directed by Nickleby himself, Roger Reese!

#17

The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby

Posted: 5/26/13 at 4:57pm

ARTc, the PBS version is cut up. I think a few scenes were left out. It was cut to fit into 50 minute episodes to show on PBS. There is a British version that is the entire show.

If anyone ever tells you that you put too much Parmesan cheese on your pasta, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.

Updated On: 5/26/13 at 04:57 PM

#18

The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby

Posted: 5/26/13 at 5:50pm

I never saw it live but I rented the VHS's from my library more than once and have the DVDs even though some stuff was cut. And I had the good fortune to do the marathon for Lyric Stage Company's production in Boston. Magical!

Butters, go buy World of Warcraft, install it on your computer, and join the online sensation before we all murder you. --Cartman: South Park ATTENTION FANS: I will be played by James Barbour in the upcoming musical, "BroadwayWorld: The Musical."

#19

The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby

Posted: 5/26/13 at 9:30pm

A revival would be too expensive to mount given its length unless it was on done not for profit, Chichester Festival Theatre did a shortened version of the show although its still 6 hour long which managed to get a West Emd transfer,

#20

The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby

Posted: 5/27/13 at 5:24pm

This was an abosolutely amazing theatrical event. The experience seeing it live could never be duplicated on video, especially since most of the taping of the video was filmed without an audience. This still ranks as my all time favorite theatrical experiences.
I loved the fact that a good many of the actors came out into the audience during the many intermissions and talked to us as themselves (not in character). During the first intermission in part 2 one of the actors was so engrossed in a conversation with me that he hadn't realized it was time to start. All of a sudden someone from stage called to him and asked if he was going to join them. As the house lights went down, he went running towards the stage did a spectacular leap onto the stage. Next intermission he came out asked if I wanted to join him for drinks afterwards - so after the show I went out with him and good many of the other actors to a bar. It was a great night!

Updated On: 5/27/13 at 05:24 PM

#21

The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby

Posted: 5/27/13 at 7:02pm

To ARTc:

Yes, I saw NICKLEBY both times it was done in NYC--with Roger Rees the first time and with Michael Siberry the second time. Loved 'em both.

Also loved the special "Nickelby" dinners at the local restaurants. You ordered your meal and paid for it in advance. When you got to the restaurant (there was a one hour intermission), the soup or salad was waiting for you and the meal was served in time for your to get back to the theater in time for the second half. An additional treat was being seated at a round table with other "Nickelby" attendees. The conversation was great!

"Long live God!" (GODSPELL)

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