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Oliver! Director/Choreographer - Vic Atkins Musical Director - Brian Frieze. First staged at London's New Theatre in 1960, Lionel Bart's musical adaptation of the Charles Dickens classic novel Oliver Twist, continues to delight and entertain audiences and proved as popular as ever in an attractive revival at the Paget Rooms, Penarth in May. The dismal gloom of the workhouse was soon dispelled by the cheeky faces and infectious enthusiasm of a lively bunch of youngsters. A well-drilled, hard working team with plenty of individual characters to watch playing the orphans and the thieving gang of the notorious Fagin. With winning charm and a sweetly sung "Where is Love", that tugged at many a heart, Andrew Salter, the unfortunate Oliver, performed with mature confidence. Lean and lanky, a real "cockney sparrer", Joe Ingram scored well as the apprentice villain, the Artful Dodger. The romantic intrigue between Bumble the Beadle (Nigel Lewis), and the workhouse matron, the Widow Corney (Fiona Porter-Smith), was well sung and played with a nice mix of sauciness and humour. The ghoulish undertakers, the subservient Mr Sowerberry (Keith Ingram), and his dominant acerbic wife (Julia Dyke), found macabre humour in the funeral parlour, together with Bethan Owen, as their nauseating daughter Charlotte, and Chris Selio, the unpleasant bully Noah Claypole. Nick Pratt dominated the stage with a deft humour and a colourful characterisation of the likeable rogue Fagin, taking his numbers at a merry pace and with good clear diction. Tragic Nancy was beautifully acted and sung with warmth and quality by Lois Banks, with good support by Sian Owen, as her young friend Bet. A performance of evil and menace by Neil Clevett, as the thug Bill Sykes, and good playing in cameo roles by Robert Gairey and Debbie Apollonio, as the kindly Mr Brownlow and his good housekeeper Mrs Bedwin, with Dean Matthews in attendance as Doctor Grimwig, and Judith Cunnigham as Old Sally. Directed and choreographed by Vic Atkins, attractive and atmospheric production numbers and good pace played by a good sounding, well rehearsed company and backed by a light, well-balanced band under the able baton of musical directore Brian Frieze. Colourfully costumed by Marigold, with sets designed by Darren and Laura Edwards, to fit the notoriously difficult Paget stage, the show was pleasing to the eye to complete an entertaining and rewarding revival of this much loved family musical. Site created by:Darren Edwards ©Copyright2010PODS Last updated 12/09/2010. |