Oliver!

I took my seat in the auditorium of the Nuffield Theatre just before curtain-up and the house lights going down for the opening number. The band struck up, and the show started with the waifs and strays in the workhouse making their descent down the steps to the table for their gruel. Immediately it was very noticeable that although they all had grubby faces, their hair was too tidy and their clothes were spotlessly clean. The same problem arose later in the show with Fagin’s urchins, once again, grubby faces and spotless clothes.  Just a little more thought needed.

Mr Bumble the Beadle, (Mike Pavitt) suddenly arrived at the top of the stairs while the waifs were scoffing their gruel. He was very imposing in his regalia, and when he spoke, his voice resonated throughout the whole of the auditorium, a good Bumble rumble. He was the very essence of how the Beadle appears in most people’s minds, in stance, looks, and mannerisms, with a wonderful singing voice that was spot-on. Mr Bumble’s  inset scene with the Widow Corney was next to being magnificent; Corney was wonderfully played by Susie Maycock and complimented Pavitt’s voice beautifully as she sang ‘I shall scream’ amid his fumblings and gropings. The show progressed as Mr Bumble took Oliver away from the orphanage walking him through the street, singing ‘Boy for sale’ beautifully, ending up at Mr Sowerberry’s Funeral parlour where Oliver was sold to work in the shop.

Mrs Sowerberry (Sarah Fulcher) was played with gusto as a really feisty, vindictive woman, but Mr Sowerberry, (Les Pike) although looking and playing the part admirably, seemed to be a little more laid back than one would imagine for a role with such a lot of scope for building up a wonderful cameo appearance, The Sowerberry’s performed ‘That’s your funeral’ very nicely indeed.  When Sowerberry’s assistant, Noah Claypole, (Matt Pike) arrived in the morning, and found Oliver in the shop, he started to grind Oliver down by calling Oliver’s mother all sorts of names, to which Oliver jumped on his back and brought him to the ground with a few pummels thrown in. Claypole was very well played with a lot of thought going into the character - a nasty piece of work, but he also used his charms wonderfully on Charlotte the maid played amiably by Abi Jeffery.

Oliver himself was a delight to watch and admirably played by Joe Mawby. At twelve years old, he overshadowed many of the cast with has acting abilities. His singing was that of an angel. He went from downtrodden urchin, to a young gentleman beautifully, by gradually changing his stance as the show progressed.

When the slimy Fagin (Jonathan Fulcher) made his eventual appearance, he looked just right and made the part his own. He acted the role brilliantly, with the voice cracked just enough to portray the old man that he was. Dodger, played by fifteen year-old Abbie Miller, was also acted very well, swaggering confidently and doing a wonderful job with the role.

From there we progressed to Paddington Green where the urchins arrived and went into ‘Consider Yourself’, during which, the Chorus made their first major entrance.  The scene was very colourful due to the wonderful lighting and costumes, the songs were good and were sung with zest. Perhaps it was just me, but I was expecting a little more oomph in all the production numbers.

When Nancy (Kerry Butcher) made her entrance, the whole show went up several notches. Wonderful acting, great movement, brilliant characterisation and a voice to die for, what more could any director want? Butcher bought the house down with her rendition of “As long as he needs me”.  She would have been equally at home on a West End stage.

Act two started, and we were introduced to Bill Sykes, a really nasty piece of work amiably played by James Gould. He looked and acted the part very well, with a voice that seemed freshly quarried from a gravel pit. It suited the character to a tee – I just hope that Gould’s voice will last the run.

When Oliver was apprehended for attempted theft, we were introduced to the kindly Mr Brownlow (Tony Lehrle- Fry). This was played with everything that made Brownlow a gentleman – compassion, feeling, and benevolence.

All the characters throughout the play were played very well by everyone - no problems with diction or volume. The outstanding cast members for me were Kerry Butcher as Nancy, Mike Pavitt as Mr Bumble, Joe Mawby as Oliver, and Jonathan Fulcher as Fagin.

The director (Roger Lamb) did an extremely good job with this show – very difficult to pull off, especially as it is one of those musicals that most people have seen on film or DVD at least once or twice and therefore already have the original characters and action in their minds. I felt that the show seemed to lack in pace in certain areas, but I put that down to first night nerves.

The orchestra under the baton of Musical director Nigel Finch was excellent and I can’t recall hearing one bum note. I could have listened to them for hours.

The hired set was very well manipulated by the crew, and was worthy of a professional show.

The Lighting, designed and operated by Martin Whitaker, was spot on, with the dim and dark moments where required, and colourful for the big chorus numbers.  It is very difficult to create realistic shadows with stage lighting, but Whitaker certainly knew how to achieve this to perfection. I also like the way he achieved subtle colour differences in various areas of the set.

The sound operated by Richard Wyeth was absolutely right, we could hear everyone perfectly without any obvious over amplification, all very easy on the ears.

The costumes were great; apart from the fact they weren’t distressed and dirty enough for the urchins and workhouse, but were ideal for the period.

The whole show was stage managed by Helen Ford, who had a very slick team to hand. All scenery movements and changes seemed to run like clockwork considering the amount of changes throughout the show.

All in all, a very good show with a professional look.

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