Oliver

The boys made quite a dramatic entrance,. some through the audience, a few from each side of the stage, and others down the steps from upstage, gradually filling the tables and benches and going on to perform 'Food Glorious Food' with great precision.  Isaac Hughes-Dennis made the most angelic Oliver I have ever seen, and he sang beautfully and confidently throughout.  Nancy (Elizabeth Wrathall) was both commanding and saucy, her delivery of 'As Long As He Needs Me' was very moving.  Fagin (David Hoyle) brought out the essential furtiveness of the old Jew and held the audience's attention with his rendering of 'I'm Reviewing the Situation' . ,All other principal roles were well played and the esemble singers of 'Who Will Buy', a difficult number to perform, was a delight to listen to.  The basic set worked well, it was used for most scenes so there were no hectic scene changes and everything flowed along nicely.  The opening of the second act was happy, bright and cheerful, then along came the brutal nasty Bill Sikes and the mood changed completely, as it should.  The orchestra was well controlled under the baton of Peter Drinkel, and all the words could be heard this year.  A very enjoyable and entertaining evening.   

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