Oliver!

the cotswold savoyards

Oliver!                                Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham.               May 15th 2019

Director: Sarah Dyer                                               Choreographer: Emily Samways         

MD: David Manifold           Assistant MD: Lucas Abbott

This well-known story of the young orphan Oliver Twist, which shows the more sordid side of life in Dickensian London, obviously appealed to the people of Cheltenham, as it was almost a sell out.

The hired in set from Scenic Projects worked well, and scene changes were carried out swiftly so that characters were able to move seamlessly to the new location.  The show was mostly well costumed taking us back in time.  The children were suitably unkempt and dirty both in the workhouse and in Fagin’s lair.  There was good costume differentiation between the lower and upper classes, and they fitted well.  All areas of the stage had been well lit, with atmospheric lighting for such scenes as the workhouse, and good points of focus, as for Widow Corney’s parlour, precise crossfades as in ‘Who Will Buy’, and the use of footlights for his final ‘Reviewing The Situation’.  The sound effects were appropriate and well cued.

The music in this show is so well known you could hear the audiences singing along in places, and Musical Director David Manifold and his assistant Lucas Abbott had certainly taught the songs well, the diction was very clear throughout and everyone sang confidently.  The singing was well balanced with the orchestra, with precise cuing.  Everyone interpreted their songs with feeling.  The opening number ‘Food Glorious Food’ was extremely well sung and got the show off to a rousing start,

This was the first time Emily Samways had choreographed for the Company and I am sure it will not be the last. The routines were well rehearsed with everyone sure of their moves, full of energy and brought a fresh interpretation to the dance numbers.

The show had been well cast with people putting their own stamp on the character they were portraying, and were convincing in their roles.  The young people playing the workhouse children and Fagin’s gang were impressive; everyone had worked hard with them to attain such a high standard of performance from them.  The Senior Chorus sang well and supported the action at all times, developing the cameos demanded of them in ‘Oom-Pah-Pah’ and ‘Who Will Buy?

What can I say about the youngsters in the roles of Oliver and The Artful Dodger; they really brought these important characters to life.  The role of The Artful Dodger was in the capable hands of a young man who gave a mature performance as a confident, cheeky young rascal, a Fagin in the making.  The role of Oliver was share by two people and the one I saw had strength of character with vulnerability and naivety, plus the voice to give a lovely rendition of ‘Where Is Love’ and ‘Who Will Buy?’

Director Sarah Dyer had put in some lovely touches, which made this production a bit different. There were some good groupings creating lovely pictures.  Everyone had worked hard to bring this entertaining production to the stage.  Congratulations.

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