Oliver!

This ever popular music never fails to entertain an audience. The well-known songs, lively score and clever script (courtesy of the genius of Charles Dickens) always brings a smile and a tear. The set for this show has become rather iconic and with the levels and staircases lends itself to some poignant moments which the company used to great effect. The lighting worked well and the costumes were what one has come to expect of this beautiful musical.

The ensemble were well rehearsed and the focus on stage was good with everyone giving their all. There were moments when the stage was a little bare, considering the hustle and bustle of a London street at that time and it would have been lovely to see the ensemble on more often.

There were some very fine performances from the principal cast and I must mention Ryan Evans who played Oliver. He had lovely stage presence and a nice voice developing. He worked very well with the whole cast and there was lovely interaction with Alexander Stevens who gave a great performance as the cheeky chappy Artful Dodger. Lovely vocal ability was brought to the role of Nancy played by Joanne Griffiths and Michal Aubin was a suitably menacing Bill Sykes complete with Bullseye characterised beautifully by the Staffie, Buster Blake!

Nice cameo roles were played by Andrew Sayers and Ann Bradshaw as the macabre Mr and Mrs Sowerberry, Josh Walker and Millie Steadman as Noah and Charlotte and Ken Thomas and Jane Williams as Mr Brownlow and Mrs Bedwin, with Jane giving a spine-tingling reprise of ‘Where is love’.

The stars of the evening for me were Mark Warren, who gave wonderful characterisation to the loveable rogue Fagin with some very humerous moments indeed and the comedy duo of Lyn Williams and Liz Bevan as Mr Bumble and Widow Corney, with the song ‘I shall scream’ not failing to make the entire theatre laugh.

My congratulations to the company and I look forward to the next show.

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