Oliver!

With its familiar characters, Oliver! has been a strong favourite with audiences since Lionel Bart adapted it in 1960 from the book of author Charles Dickens’ ‘Oliver Twist’ from 1838 which was the year a young Queen Victoria was crowned.
Such longevity of enjoyment means that its strong, multi-dimensional characters is a story that (whilst of its time) is as relatable to now as all those years ago.

It is also always a pleasure to visit the friendly Jarrow MTC as they always impress and similarly today. After the introduction of the children in the ‘Food glorious food’ number we see the complete distain and brutality of the workhouse in the era as Oliver is castigated and sold by Mr Bumble and Widow Corney (Colin Coulson and Jillaine Reay Hindson) – both have very strong voices and the comedy brought out in their scene ‘I Shall Scream’ was a joy to behold – one of my favourite scenes in the musical played by two consummate actors.

In ‘Boy for Sale’, Oliver is apprenticed to local undertaker Mr Sowerberry (Grayson Wood) and his wife (Tamara Wilson). You were abundantly aware who held the dominant hand in the relationship as Grayson and Tamara bounced off each other, especially in their comedic duo song ‘That’s your Funeral’ and the subsequent somewhat inebriated return of Mr Sowerberry the following day which was a master class in pretending you’re sober when you obviously aren’t.
Oliver is fed on scraps by the Sowerberry’s daughter ‘Charlotte’ (Harriet Stelling) and her would be boyfriend and senior apprentice ‘Noah Claypole’ (Luke Carr) who arrives full of belligerence to berate Oliver – both youngsters worked well together and the funeral parlour scene is a classic.

Escaping the clutches of an oppressed lifestyle of the Midlands with authentic accents, Oliver arrives several days later in London and meets up with the ‘Artful Dodger’ (Catherine Purvis). The scene with Catherine and the whole ensemble as they performed the ‘Consider Yourself’ number was a joy to behold and testament to her vocal ability, acting and choreography.

Finally, we meet ‘Fagin’ (Phil Stabler) looking very ‘Fagin-esque’ (although I did miss the beard). The character can be interpreted many ways and Phil made him somewhat sinister and very much in charge of the gang of thieves including ‘Charley Bates’ (Charlie Sharratt - he of mouldy sausages fame) rather than a jovial ‘father figure’. Having played the role myself several years ago I looked forward to the ‘I’m Reviewing the Situation’ number and Phil ‘nailed it’ in his interpretation. Where Fagin ‘softened’ was in his relationship with the youngest member of his gang ‘Nipper’ (Nancy Turnbull) which led to a few poignant reminders that no man is ‘truly bad in every way’.

In Fagin’s den we see for the first time ‘Nancy’ (Frances Wood) and her friend ‘Bet’ (Hannah Purvis) – Hannah was very sweet in her ‘I’d Do Anything’ number and reacted well to the others in the scene. ‘Nancy’ is a very complex character and Frances brought out all the nuances of the role. Rather than just belt out the classic song ‘As Long as He Needs Me’ (which she did beautifully) she ‘performed it’ and managed to convey a battered ‘wife’ in a way that she was apologetic for being a ‘trouble’ – Absolutely tremendous. Whenever you think about Nancy you think ‘the red dress’ – generally very scarlet. I’m unsure if it was by design and forethought or just lucky coincident but Nancy’s dress was a muted shade of red, frayed around the edges and dirty on the hems as would befit a lady down on her luck in early Victorian London – well done.

The object of Nancy’s love (and fear) was ‘Bill Sykes’ (Joe Coulson) – I can honestly say I have never seen a more imposing, sinister or truly evil interpretation of the villain. ‘Bill’s entrance left a chill in the air leading along an equally sinister ‘Bullseye’ (Lilo – whom I’m sure is a very nice dog and sleeps at their family’s feet quite peacefully).

The Brownlow’s household comprised a pompous Dr Grimwig (Michael Hall) visiting the bedside of young Oliver befriended as he was by mother substitute housekeeper Mrs Bedwin (Helen Leckie) and presided over by Oliver rescuer ‘Mr Brownlow’ (Ken Richardson) – all played their parts well.
It is in this scene where Oliver encounters another of my favourite scenes of ‘Who Will Buy’ and big toe-tapping chorus number with ‘sellers’ Faye Doherty, Kelsey Holder, Helen Richardson and Luke Carr in tremendous harmonised voices.

Onto the titular role of the production, ‘Oliver’, the role requires a young lad of sweetness, vulnerability with an angelic voice to sing ‘Where is Love’ – In Zac Anders Jarrow found such a lad – Well done young man you are a star in the making.

This was a good production full of wonderful tunes, believable characters, fine choreography and good character acting – well done all from Childrens and Adult Ensembles, stage crew, musicians – especially Adam Nyberg for the violin riffs in the reviewing the situation number – Lighting and Sound (Also especially for not being phased by a fire alarm and seven minute delay in the middle of Fagin’s den) – see you at the panto in December.

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.