In this faithful adaptation of the Charles Dickens novel, director Stephen Whittaker skillfully develops the central theme: the abuse of children by adults. It is a familiar motif with Dickens, occurring in Oliver Twist, David Copperfield, The Old Curiosity Shop, and other novels. In Nicholas Nickleby, director Whittaker develops this theme with a graphic depiction of a dark and filthy boarding school in which little boys go hungry, suffer the lash, and stutter in fear while adult overseers gorge on food, comfort, and sadism. The children in the school, and in society at large, are commodities that bring a profit -- nothing more. The teenage heroes of the film, Nicholas and Kate Nickleby, refuse to yield to the impoverishment thrust upon them after their father dies and to the wrongdoing of the adult raptors -- in particular, their greedy and unfeeling uncle, Ralph Nickleby, portrayed brilliantly by Charles Dance. As the chief villain, Dance never once flinches as he sucks the marrow out of his prey. His odious presence makes evil almost palpable, setting off by contrast the righteous characters, the Nicklebys and the Cheerybles -- and the poor halfwit, Smike (Lee Ingleby). The rest of the cast performs capably, although director Whittaker tilts some of them over the edge of caricature. For example, Debbie Chazen as schoolmaster Wackford Squeers' daughter is so gluttonous and self-centered that she seems more like a cartoon character than a real person. On the other hand, Sophia Myles as Kate acts entirely within her character -- innocent, loyal, and beautiful inside and out. As Nicholas, James D'Arcy projects the earnestness and resolve required for the role, as well as enough stage presence to anchor the production. Overall, the production is a handsome one that does justice to the Dickens book.