Music, Lyrics and Book by Lionel Bart
Runs November 14th to 24th, 2007
Directed by Monty Hughes
Based on the Charles Dickens novel, this musical comedy classic has engaged audiences since 1960. A real family show!
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Music, Lyrics and Book by Lionel Bart Runs November 14th to 24th, 2007 Directed by Monty Hughes Based on the Charles Dickens novel, this musical comedy classic has engaged audiences since 1960. A real family show! |
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"Oliver! played at Powerhouse Theatre November 14th -24th to sold out audiences, and was then held over for 3 more sold out performances Nov29-Dec.1st.
A great cast of kids and grown-ups whose enthusiasm and skill endeared us all to the broad range of characters, from the evil but entertaining Bill Sykes (Colin Carney), the engaging Nancy (Julie Armitage), who delivered one showstopping number after another, the intractably cute Artful Dodger (Pascal Belanger), the captivating Bette (Cassandra Plovesan, the devilish bully Noah Claypole (Alex Judd).
Mary Huggins hinted that this might be her swan song on the stage but showed us with her portrayal of Mrs. Sowerberry the range of skills, singing, comedic looks, dramatic timing that has drawn audiences for over forty years. Doug Huggins not only designed a successful and attractive set, but also performed excellently opposite Mary as the Undertaker Henry Sowerberry.
The Golden Udder award for milking the scene, was shared by Janet Walmsley and Jackson Mace who delighted us with a hilarious seduction scene night after night, despite laryngitis, flu and painful injury. Jackson's "Boy For Sale" stands, for this reviewer, as a beautiful performance of a hauntingly lovely song that touched audiences every night. His comedic skills in contrast, make his Mr. Bumble a stand-out.
Judy Mori, playing four characters, entertained us, comforted Oliver with a sensitive reprise of Nancy's aria: "As Long As He Needs Me" and finally died saving Oliver.
The adorable Oliver, played so well by Amanda Breitkreutz, convinced many audiences who never suspected that the principal boy was really a girl, that "she" was really Oliver Twist, will be remembered for a long time.
Not enough can be said about Ben McLean, his masterful characterization of Fagin - charming, deceitful, pitiable, fearsome, amazed audiences with his rendition of "Reviewing the Situation," with his easy relationships with the boys and, with his guile in manipulating Bill and Nancy he showed us another dimension to this complex musical.
And speaking of music - the musicians performed magnificently: Paul, Dan, Elysha and her mom, and himself (Monty) on Bass Viol.
The concept of Monty Hughes' production entertained us with superbly staged musical and dance numbers which still did not obscure the darker elements of Dickens' story - child enslavement, co-dependent relationships, misogyny and poverty in Victorian England. Beginning with a dark and stormy night and a tragic birth, the play seamlessly took us through the gamut of emotional experiences: sadness, laughter, delight, fear, sympathy, love, joy, outrage, vindication, pity, remorse, and finally hope."
- review by Geoff White, theatreghost @ telus.net
| CHARACTER | ACTOR | ||
OLIVER TWIST MR. BUMBLE WIDOW CORNEY NOAH CLAYPOLE MR. SOWERBERRY MRS. SOWERBERRY CHARLOTTE ARTFUL DODGER FAGIN NANCY CHARLES BATES BET OLD SALLY OLD LADY BILL SYKES MRS. BEDWIN MR. BROWNLOW DR. GRIMWIG BOY FIRST WOMAN SECOND WOMAN NIGHT WATCHMAN 1ST. BOW ST. RUNNER 2ND BOW ST. RUNNER MAN 2ND, 3RD, AND 4TH MAN CHARMAN Fish Monger Butcher Baker |
A. Breitkreutz Jackson Mace Janet Walmsley Alex Judd Doug Huggins Mary Huggins Molly Noonan Pascal Belanger Ben McLean Julie Armitage CHARLES BATES Cassandra Piovesan OLD SALLY Judy Mori Colin Carney Judy Mori Peter Loster Bob Oldfield BOY FIRST WOMAN SECOND WOMAN NIGHT WATCHMAN 1ST. BOW ST. RUNNER 2ND BOW ST. RUNNER MAN 2ND, 3RD, AND 4TH MAN CHARMAN Bob Oldfield Tim Boulter Dominik Dlouhy |
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| Fagin's Lads
(Photos below, courtesy of Judy Mori) |
KIDS' CHORUS Sam Sorokowsky William Friesen Colin Judd Ansyn Neuhaus Ian Pusey Marcus Loden Shaun McCoy Jesse Boudreau Luca Starone |
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