By Larisssa Villers
Expectations are great for the new stage production of Charles Dickens'' novel 'Great Expectations.'
Starting May 17, the classic novel of redemption and forgiveness, will come to life on the Pardoe Theater stage at BYU.
'Great Expectations' is the story of fortune and misfortune in the life of a young boy named Pip.
Despite his humble beginnings, Pip aspires to be a gentleman. He inherits a great fortune to accomplish his dream, but discovers his benefactor is a criminal and then decides to forsake great expectations in life.
Director Eric Samuelson said the production has a wonderful sense of the fall, redemption, and injustice that is applicable to life.
According to Samuelson, the theme of the production is summed by Pip''s line: 'There have been sore mistakes; and my life has been a blind and thankless one; and I want forgiveness and direction far too much to be bitter with you.'
Samuelson interprets this to mean, 'I want forgiveness too much for myself to not forgive you.'
The audience learns life''s important lessons of hope, tragedy, and forgiveness through Pip''s journeys.
Amanda Scheffer, an Eastern Michigan University theater and dance graduate, plays the part of Pip''s love interest Estella.
Scheffer said that the story teaches, 'How delicate and impressionable the soul is and how careful we need to be with one another. There is hope after a wound.'
Doug Kaufman, a 19 year-old sophomore theater major from Monroe, Connecticut, portrays the role of Pip. 'Great Expectations' is Kaufman''s first production at BYU, and he has earned showers of praise from the other, more experienced cast members.
Scheffer said that Kaufman has kicked up his performance one hundred percent in the past week, overcoming an emergency appendectomy he had two weeks ago.
'He is such a tough kid,' said Scheffer.
A cast with a bond on and off the stage helps to give a production the special flare that attracts audiences. This cast has that bond.
Kaufman said, 'They are all very humble and willing to help...all the cast came to visit me in the hospital.' He said that the most important things he has taken from this production are the love of the cast and the knowledge of others.
Kaufman said that his experience has been 'chaotic and amazing.' To him, the basic message of the show is that of redemption.
Samuelson hopes that this production will help to inspire children to appreciate classic literature. He believes 'Great Expectations' is a great family production.
Cast members are: Doug Kaufman as Pip, Amanda Scheffer as Estella, and Robert J. Biggs as Magwitch. Elisa Eames, Michelle Gibbs, Tony Gunn, Ben Hess, Conrad Pack, Michael Padekan, and Nola Smith round out the cast, each playing multiple roles.
Performances start May 17 and will run Tuesdays through Saturdays through June 1 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available in the Fine Arts Ticket Office at the price of $12 for the general public and $9 for students and faculty. The ticket office can be reached at 422-4322.