Charles Dickens would have stood up in his seat and clapped the loudest if he had been at Orcas Center’s opening night of “Great Expectations.”

On a tiny island in North America, a group of committed actors did the British author proud, bringing his classic tale of love and social angst to life. It was the workshop debut of Book-it Repertory Theatre’s production, adapted for the stage by Julie Beckman, and Seattle director Jane Jones’s expertise and dedication were evident in the nuance of the acting.

Jamie Mulligan-Smith carried the play, presenting an engaging portrayal of Pip. Her perfect timing, comedic touches, and heartfelt emotion made for a riveting performance. She was Pip for the duration of the play.

The supporting cast was equally strong, with Mary Bayley nailing the enthusiastic insanity of Miss Havisham, Donna McCoy giving Mrs. Joe a fierce yet humorous anger, and Bryan Grantham lending Joe just the right amount of earnestness. Jules Mann played the haughty Estella well, and Halley McCormick sparkled as both Biddy and Herbert – her comedic timing was irresistible. Freddie Hinkle was ghoulish as Magwitch, and Sukima Hampton, Ron Herman, David Schermerhorn, and Bob Littlewood rounded out the excellent cast.

The play’s rhythm changed after the second act, when the actors read predominately from music stands, but it didn’t detract from the outstanding first act. The delicate soundtrack, which included a flute and drums, the subtle sound effects, and superb lighting were the perfect companions to the show’s dialogue. With little more than chairs and tables as props, the actors were able to set the scenes wonderfully.

“Great Expectations” is a superb example of community theatre. Jones should be proud of the work she accomplished at Orcas Center.

Future dates

“Great Expectations” will be performed again this weekend and on Oct. 22 to 24. All performances are at 7:30 p.m. except for the final performance on Saturday, Oct. 24, which is a 2 p.m. matinee. Tickets for the play are $16, $12 for Orcas Center members, and $8 for students. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.orcascenter.org or call or 376-2281 ext. 1 during box office hours, Thursday to Saturday, noon to 4 p.m.