But if the RSC production basically did the same thing but with multiple narrator-characters, then it's definitely the same principle.
The RSC effectively had the entire cast hand off the narration by turns, breaking up into dialogue as the characters moved back behind the fourth wall. It worked extremely well and meant most of what everyone said onstage was Dickens.
(I recommend the production! It was filmed with the original cast in 1981, which is the only reason I've seen it. I managed to make notes only about my favorite character.)
[edit] If someone had described the technique to me, I don't think I would have been sure that it would work well in practice, but in this production it did.
I'm not sure I've ever seen this particular version, ether, with just the one character shifting back and forth between narration and interaction, but I can see that it would be effective if done well. I'm glad it was!
no subject
The RSC effectively had the entire cast hand off the narration by turns, breaking up into dialogue as the characters moved back behind the fourth wall. It worked extremely well and meant most of what everyone said onstage was Dickens.
(I recommend the production! It was filmed with the original cast in 1981, which is the only reason I've seen it. I managed to make notes only about my favorite character.)
[edit] If someone had described the technique to me, I don't think I would have been sure that it would work well in practice, but in this production it did.
I'm not sure I've ever seen this particular version, ether, with just the one character shifting back and forth between narration and interaction, but I can see that it would be effective if done well. I'm glad it was!