Olivia!

This is the first performance I have seen from this fledgling group, SABOS Youth, whose first full 2 act show this is and I have come away impressed. What a talented group of youngsters and what hope for the future. This show ‘Olivia!’ was also a first for me and I found it charming, dark at times, and wholly entertaining. Set in Victorian times, it follows the fortunes of a redoubtable Olivia from unwanted orphan with a Dick Whittington-like journey to London where she falls in to the con men hands of Fagin and Artful Dodger- shades of ‘Oliver!’ - to meeting the flower sellers Eliza Doolittle and Annie who befriend her and change the course of her life. In the opening orphanage scene, Sophie Banks as Mrs Murdstone dominated the scene cowing employees and orphans with her bullying and cruelty and delivered in a clear-cut authoritative voice. Madeleine Johnston gave a confident, rebellious Olivia who rather than knuckle down to such treatment, escaped and made her way to London. Her optimism in action grew her character and her sweet singing voice captivated. The older flower sellers packed a confident punch as a group allowing Alexandra Montgomery to shine as an assertive and persuasive Eliza Doolittle, calling in favours to help others and of course to help Olivia. Less obvious at first was Rose Taylor as Annie, developing her role as the reticent flower seller who has experienced hardship. She quite knocked us out with her poignant and well sung Who Am I? Jemima Johnston portrayed a devious Fagin and Gavrielle Oluwadare created a cheeky Artful Dodger with a strong delivery of the G &S style patter song which got him off the hook. Other Londoners took a trick: Siobhan Lydon as the kindly Mrs Dilber; Oliver McPherson as Dicken who turned his life around; Tess McKie as the know all GB Shaw; Eliza Trussler catching the sleuth like Sherlock Holmes; and a surprisingly endearing Ebeneezer Scrooge played by Kyle Godby. All the cast inhabited their roles well, changing from orphans to Londoners to named roles and back again and singing with feeling, culminating in a joyous Olivia! at the end. The staging on the church hall floor was intimate and the use of boxes and props by the cast was well used to create scenes. The choreography accommodated the surrounding audience by circling the cast in singing numbers so everyone could hear and see. Special mention must be made of the costumes which were co-ordinated by Holly Taylor. She captured the styles of Victorian London from down and outs to the elite with Sherlock Holmes thrown in. All round, the commitment of this young cast was amazing and their enthusiasm catching. Officials and parents must be proud of them. Congratulations to all involved.

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