Oliver!

The set looked great and the stage crew worked hard with scene changes so there was minimum disruption. The sound was the best I have heard here for a while with only a small whistle in the second half and with the balance of Orchestra and cast perfect for the audience. The props and costumes looked great, worked well and were in keeping with the time.

The opening number was “Food Glorious Food” where the children’s chorus worked well with the choreography, sounded clear and looked like they were having fun throughout the show.

I cannot mention all the principals but Ciaran Lockwood who played Oliver looked and sounded the part. His acting was great and his diction was very clear. He always looked like he was enjoying himself in the role.

Kate Davis was excellent as the Artful Dodger and worked well alongside Ciaran. She was never upstaged by the adult cast and had lots of stage presence with good vocals too.

Paul Hancox was fabulous as Fagin. He had the right mix of comedy and pathos to command the stage every time he was on it. With great vocals and brilliant acting he was mesmerising to watch.

Nancy was played well by Olivia Callaghan with lovely vocals and super acting opposite the very scary Bill Sykes played by Stuart Eade.

The two couple roles of Mr Bumble and Widow Corney and Mr & Mrs Sowerberry were very well played with comedy high on the agenda for all four characters. Nigel Borg Fenech and Claire Nicolls were dour and imposing as Mr & Mrs Sowerberry with great vocals and timing on “That’s Your Funeral”. Paul McConnochie and Mary Doyle were fabulous as Mr Bumble and Widow Corney and both sounded superb in all their numbers.

Sophie Wilson as Charlotte and James Valentine as Noah both filled their roles well and Pheobe Eade slotted beautifully into the role of Bet with super dance moves and vocals. Joseph Aldred made a mischievous Charlie Bates with Philip Brady and Vanessa Randle as Mr Brownlow and Mrs Bedwin delivering lines with clear diction and feeling.

Well done to each and every person involved with this show especially the new  production team who really did a super job on a classic show.

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