The production follows the Morgan's recent exhibition, "Charles Dickens at 200," and is part of "Dickens 2012," an international celebration of the British writer's bicentennial.
According to the Morgan Library, in this one-woman show, acclaimed BAFTA award-winning actor Margolyes ("Harry Potter," "The Age of Innocence," Wicked) "portrays 23 iconic characters drawn from some of Dickens' best-loved novels and sketches," including Mrs. Micawber ("David Copperfield"), Miss Havisham ("Great Expectations"), and the grotesque Mrs. Gamp ("Martin Chuzzlewit"). "Through her portrayals, Margolyes sets out to discover Dickens himself — from his raucous humor to the darker aspects of his life and work."
First devised and written by Margolyes and Sonia Fraser for the 1989 Edinburgh Festival, Dickens' Women has original music and arrangements by Michael Haslam, with piano accompaniment by Simon Mulligan. Fraser directs. It's produced by Richard Jordan Productions Ltd. in association with Andrew McKinnon and Pleasance.
Performances play 7:30 PM Nov. 9 ad 3 PM Nov. 10. The Morgan Library is at 225 Madison Avenue. Tickers are $35 ($25 for Morgan Members).
Visit the themorgan.org/programs or call (212) 685-0008, ext. 560. *
Winner of the BAFTA Best Supporting Actress Award in 1993 for "The Age of Innocence," Margolyes also received Best Supporting Actress at the 1989 LA Critics Circle Awards for her role in "Little Dorrit" and a Sony Radio Award for Best Actress on Radio in 1993. Her first professional work was for the BBC Drama Repertory Company and her voice work has continued to form an important part of her career. She is particularly proud of "The Queen and I," in which she played every member of the Royal Family and the E.F. Benson series of "Mapp & Lucia." She has voiced many animation films and was Fly in "Babe," the Matchmaker in "Mulan" and voiced "Happy Feet" and "Flushed Away". In 2002 Margolyes was awarded the OBE for her services to Drama in the Queen's New Year's Honours List.
Her film credits include Professor Sprout in "Harry Potter," the Nurse in "Romeo + Juliet," "Little Dorrit," "Ladies in Lavender," "Being Julia," the BBC comedy "Blackadder," as well as stage performances in Endgame and Wicked. She will soon be seen with Barbara Streisand in "The Guilt Trip" and in "The Wedding Video" with Dame Harriet Walter.
