"Young theatergoers don’t have to have read Dickens to enjoy this earnest and often evocative family show...It merges fact and fiction...It’s unclear why the script departs so much from history here, except perhaps to accentuate the drama of the family’s downfall...Under Josh Penzell’s direction, all the actors do fine work, often in multiple roles...While words wouldn’t feed the hungry or clothe the poor, 'Young Charles Dickens' shows that they were sustenance, too."
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"An engaging bio-musical...Even school-age kids unfamiliar with his work will pick up a lot from this gritty, but heartwarming tale...The songs are simple and sweet. There's plenty of welcome humor as the boys make the best of their circumstances...However, the subject matter is dark and complex...In addition to celebrating the power of imagination, 'Young Charles Dickens' encourages kids to be socially conscious and treat everyone with respect and empathy."
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