Oliver

According to Mr. Bumble, it’s the meat that does it.  Well, if he’s right, then the entire company must have been fed on it! 

This production got the society off to a cracking start. ‘Oliver!’ is a well-known show, and it's impossible not to compare it with other versions I have seen in the past and this version compared very favourably, and was tremendously enhanced by the ‘detail’ in the performances. These were not performers simply saying and singing their lines, but actors who had got ‘under the skin’ of their characters. It was not only the main characters that shone but all of the smaller roles made the most of their parts including the workhouse/Fagin’s gang of boys.

In the larger roles, Colin Coleman and Sonia Cameron, as Mr Bumble and Widow Corney, produced a very amusing and saucy rendition of ‘I Shall Scream’. This is the first time I have seen these characters portrayed in this manner, and it worked having the whole audience in fits of laughter.  Pete Smith and Belinda Richards also performed well together as Mr & Mrs Sowerberry.

In the title role of ‘Oliver’ Alex Nicholls (on the night I attended) excelled with his performance and fine acting throughout, along with Harry Simkin as ‘Dodger’ was the archetypal loveable rogue – a highlight being his ‘Consider Yourself’.

Fagin was played by Greg Yates in an accomplished manner which allowed the audience to catch glimpses of his inherent evilness, his compassion, his frailty and his sense of self-preservation – no more so than in the last verse of ‘Reviewing the Situation’ where the audience palpably empathised with him. Nancy was played by Alison Room who gave an outstanding performance as she too showed many facets to her character whist producing some exceptional vocal performances. Finally Jamie Norgrove, as Bill Sykes gave a good performance as the evil psychopathic thug.

All the characters were ably supported by a good chorus who moved and sang well, under the control of James Maddison in the pit, and Ami Radcliffe with the choreography. This was a production well worthy of the full houses it received.  Well done everyone, I’m sure everyone will be back next year for "more".

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