Oliver!

Firstly can I say a big welcome to NODA. I’m thrilled that you have joined my  “team” and I must say it was such a pleasure to visit your production of Oliver. I  had no pre-conceptions of other shows you’d done and I must say I feel this club  has a bright future judging by the wealth of talent it has. There was such a buzz in  the audience largely due to being “sold out” (well done) and it was obvious  everyone was out for a good time, so the atmosphere was already created and I  don’t think anyone would have been disappointed.  

I was so impressed by the set, I assumed it had been hired on first glance but  when I looked in the program I realised it was a team effort and designed by  Andrew Pruitt. I love when a set comes fully out to the pros arch it makes the stage  feel so big and seems to adsorb us in as an audience. This really took me back to  1800’s and the lighting enhanced it. As the production started, the design cleverly  helped the show to speed along. Hats off to Andrew and all the team. Great work.  

The only thing that hit me as being rather odd was the amount of jewellery worn by  a lot of the ensemble. Earrings in particular. Bit odd for the time but just something  to think about. The only other distraction was I saw a label in Nancys black shawl,  a minute thing I grant you but my eyes were drawn and brought a smile to my  face.  

The great thing about Oliver is you get hit song after hit song. No matter how many  times you see it, there’s always one you forget and becomes a lovely surprise.  The choreography was exceptional. I thought Daisy pulled it out of the bag.  Everybody looked very comfortable with what they were doing and were mostly on  cue. Obviously in a big club like ACTS you have all levels of ability and I really  thought you played to everyone’s strengths. Consider yourself and the opening of  Food Glorious Food were so well drilled. It was quite a spectacle. Nice use of  bringing in the dancing girls when needed to do a bit of fronting. I really enjoyed  your work and really appreciate it would have been no easy task.  

The lighting and sound did a great job. I dread to think how many cues you had  but all seemed swift pickups. The lighting was extremely atmospheric even in the  street scenes were suitably dull but we saw just enough. I thought this added to  the drama of it all. 

The transition into Fagins Den was very well directed and lit but I felt a lighting cue  had been missed as we came out of the Den as the change over was in quite  bright light. The cast were on the upper level and I just thought it was a shame  whilst the change was taking place you couldn’t have dimmed the lights  underneath. Just a small thing but all adds to the bigger picture.  

Musical Direction  

I think the musical side of this show many will think oh that’s an easy one!  Especially if done well as this was. But oh no. Some of the timings of these songs  are extremely tricky. I use “Who Will Buy” as an example. A quartet all singing  something different at the same time! This felt very well rehearsed and a big well  done to all involved in this number. The ballads As Long As He Needs Me, Where  Is Love and Reviewing The Situation were excellent so well acted as well as sung. I  think by Oom Pah-pah we were all ready to get on our feet and join in. All came  across to us perfectly.  

Fagin  

You made your mark right from your first entrance. A wonderful part for you. Well  costumed great wig and a fabulous energy which you never let dip. Good strong  actor and a great voice. Pic a Pocket was a great high light. The pace didn’t falter  and top marks for that last note. Nailed it. Your interaction with The Gang was  completely sincere. A very enjoyable thought through performance.  

Nancy  

Perfect casting. Well costumed. I loved the red dress especially when in places like  The Den you always stood out amongst the muted colours. Very good wig too.  Really suited you. As Long As He Needs Me (the song we were all waiting for) did  not disappoint, centre stage with little distraction just as it should have been. You  bought us in to your heart with your eyes and I really felt you meant every word  you sang. Good interaction with the other characters especially with Bill we could  feel your pain. Great all round performance.  

Oliver  

This is a tough one to portray for someone so young but you absolutely pulled it  out of the bag. That cheeky grin just won us all over. Where Is Love was so  heartfelt and full of passion, again a song we are all so familiar with but you made  it your own and hit every note full on. I’m sure there will be some great parts  coming your way in the future if I had any advice for you I’d just say forget there is  an audience. Don’t let them distract you from your focus. I look forward to seeing  you in the future.  

Dodger  

We loved you. Again perfect casting. You bought a fantastic energy to the stage  and certainly have terrific presence. You fronted Consider Yourself with such  confidence we couldn’t take our eyes off of you. A good strong voice in the making  too. Another musical theatre bright light of the future. 

Widow Corney  

This was another performance I couldn’t take my eyes off of. You were so  animated and had a wonderful sense of comedy. Good clear voice and excellent  diction. I thought you and Mr Bumble played very nicely off of each other. A very  good performance that had been completely thought through.  

Mr Bumble  

On this particular night I saw Hayden who absolutely threw himself into the  character of Mr Bumble. Great costume. Good strong base voice which  complimented Widow Corney very nicely. Nice little double act between the two of  you. It worked a treat.  

Bill Sikes  

Good strong menacing character just what we’d expect of Bill. Well costumed and  the dark beard shadowing on the face all added to your character. I loved how you  lurked in the shadows and the death scene of Nancy was very well acted. There  were quite a few sharp intakes of breath from the audience.  

Bet  

This is a relatively small role which could easily get lost into the background. But  you weren’t going to let that happen. This performer has great stage presence and  kept yourself involved even when you didn’t have dialogue. Your focus was  excellent throughout. Good strong singing voice. I think there are some nice roles  coming your way in the future and I for one will certainly look forward to them.  

Directors  

Girls I would say give yourselves a huge pat on the back. This was a very  enjoyable production. I was staggered at the amount of talent that ACTS has  onboard. Even some of the very younger members absolutely shone through, this  bodes well for the future of the club. I felt all the lead characters had a good  knowledge of what they were trying to portray. Not easiest of shows with a youth  group with such strong adult subject matter. But they all did an excellent job.  

The pace was excellent throughout. Sometimes the dialogue went a little too fast  that it was difficult to hear every word. It just needed pulling back just slightly. The  excellent flow only had one dead spot that I noticed and that was the second half  going into Fagin’s Den that could have been easily covered if the kids ran onto the  stage from all entrances making noise and showing each other their ill gotten gains  from pick pocketing and that could have just covered the previous scene change  into the opening of the Den door. Easy for me to say sat there watching it I know,  but just could have covered that dead spot. 

So that said I really, really enjoyed it. All the other characters that were cast made  their mark and had obviously thought about their performances and were certainly  directed well.  

This was obviously a good team from every department and I’m really hoping I get  invited to the next one.  

My best wishes to you all 

Mike.

 

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.