Oliver!

What can one say about this centenary year production?   Wwhat a wonderful way to celebrate, with such an outstanding and professional show. The (Girl Power) production team of Amanda Howell, Posy Walton and Carole Beatty pulled out all stops (and more) to shine, inspire and electrify the company on stage.   How well cast with regular members of CSODS desperate to be on stage in this special production. The audience knew a treat was in store from the moment that excellent orchestra played the first note of the evening.

But before the show, as the audience entered, and throughout the whole production, how impressive the set design and the management and manipulation on that unforgiving space that is the stage of the Pier Pavilion.   Many congratulations go to the small crew with cast involvement for the ‘choreography’ of getting screens and trucks into position on cue, and how good every scene looked. and congratulations also to props, wardrobe, and wigs.

The opening night enjoyed the Pease Pudding team of children, but I am  certain that the Saveloys team would be as good.   How clever to include the girls from the workhouse in the first sequence to give a chance to more youngsters, but I have to say how delighted I was that all of Fagin’s Gang were boys as this is  more convincing. A lot of energy and noise from these urchins on that stage, some very creditable dance movement, these were real mischievous boys, and how they sang their hearts out.    In the title role, 10 year-old Joseph Oxtoby wore the face of an angel but proved he could hold his own in rough London, the voice for this part always brings a lump to the throat.  His counterpart William Daniels as The Artful Dodger had it all with style, a cheeky manner and face, very nimble feet, strong voice, and a likeable personality as he took Oliver under his wing.

In the Workhouse Parlour, Peter Howell as Mr Bumble showed yet again why he is always a lead player in this group, with his presence and style, his singing voice, his great timing and playing to extract every last issue from a role. And the chemistry worked with Nikki Rodwell in the comedy role of Widow Corney, I never realised she could sing as she is always in plays; this duo worked so well and gained the laughter.

And then on to another masterly comedy sequence at the Funeral Parlour with Robin Taylor looking suitably funereal in style and movement as Mr Sowerberry and Nona Gray as his shrill wife: these two had worked up a great relationship to extract every second of bizarre humour from the situation, quite extraordinary. The scene was well pointed and added to by the very good presentations from Yvonne Kidd and Neil Robertson as Charlotte and Noah. And of course the comedy was counteracted in mood by the singing of ‘Where is love?’ by Oliver.

On to Paddington Green where the full impact of an energised and dynamic and joyous company gave their all in song and dance as they invited the audience to ‘Consider Yourself One of Us’, and we did with applause. And again later in the Three Cripples, this maelstrom of personalities gave the vigour required with, the great sound of a roused crowd of friends enjoying themselves, the fun of movement still in character and the rendition of ‘Oom-Pah-Pah’ just raised the roof.

Nick Bird has played most lead roles in musicals with various societies, but to date the part of Fagin has eluded him: but once again he proved to be at the top of the tree with his interpretation and performance.   He was so professional in rendition, not overdoing the role (which can happen) he brought out the humour and the feeling and his singing as usual was excellent.   The personality shown and the empathy to the other performers completed the perfection of the role. The scenes with the children well worked, and the drama of the story was well brought out.

I am delighted that Claire Reynolds came back from an extended maternity leave into the society to play Nancy.  With the looks, the voice, the style and presence, the movement, and the feeling in her ‘As long as he needs me’, this was a Nancy to relish on stage. In support a very strong Bet from Selina White, I  liked the friends joining for that excellent sequence of ‘I’d do anything’.

The fear for Bill Sykes really felt by this company, Gary Clifton with the strong, almost quietly offered, menace rising to crescendo, was a personality to be avoided at all costs.

 The ‘cameo’ roles are always so important and brought out so well in this company with true acting and feeling: Janet Nightingale as the loving and supporting Mrs Bedwin, Martin Howard as Mr Brownlow, and Peter Thrower (always good value) as the irascible Dr Grimwig.

 This is a show to be proud of and worthy of the celebrations of CSODS centenary; I know that the NODA National President was most impressed by this North Norfolk production (and worth the flight down from Scotland).

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