Summary
Oliver! is the musical version of the Oliver Twist
story, a novel by Charles Dickens set in London in 1850. Oliver Twist is
a young boy who begins his life in a workhouse with other orphaned boys.
After asking for 'more', Mr. Bumble, the parish beadle, sells Oliver to
a local undertaker where Oliver is treated horribly. Oliver then escapes
and runs off to Paddington Green, where he quickly befriends the Artful
Dodger, the ringleader of a gang of boy thieves run by a wizard of
pickpocketry, Fagin. Dodger takes him to Fagin's home. After Oliver is
mistakenly caught by the police for pickpocketing, the man that Oliver
is thought to have thieved, Mr. Brownlow, learns of Oliver's sad past
and brings him into his own home. Meanwhile, Bill Sykes forces Nancy to
snatch Oliver from Mr. Brownlow's house and take him back to Fagin's.
When Oliver is sent out by Mr Brownlow to return some books, he is
recognised and caught once again and taken back to Fagin's House. Mr
Brownlow then offers a reward for any information leading to his safe
return. After discovering that Oliver's mother may have come from a
wealthy background, Mr Bumble and Widow Corney visit Mr Brownlow to
profit from any reward leading to Oliver's return. Eventually, Nancy
contacts Mr Brownlow to help return Oliver safely to him and after a
dramatic scene, in which Nancy is killed by Sykes, Oliver is rescued.
NODA Review of
Oliver!
In an impressive and taut production by Bob Petersen,
the Pentyrch Village Hall was transformed to the bleakness of a
workhouse and Dickensian London for the sombre tale of the orphan Oliver
Twist, Fagin and his pick-pocketing gang. The grimness of the orphanage
was soon filled with bright-eyed characters as the youngsters pleaded
'Food, Glorious Food' and later with their enthusiasm and enjoyment as
trainee villains, well-rehearsed and precise in all they did. Young Leon
Stawicky, touched hearts with a beautifully sung 'Where is Love' as the
lad who wanted more, the fragile orphan Oliver, whose future was soon to
be changed by the cheeky cockney sparrer Artful Dodger, played with bags
of charm by Matthew Brettle. The romantic intrigue of the apoplectic Mr
Bumble, the Beadle and the coy harridan orphanage matron, the Widow
Corney, was a nice mix of naughtiness and fun, played by Phil Davies and
Amanda Campbell. Funeral parlours are not usually a place of humour
unless it is the establishment of the subservient Mr Sowerberry (Martyn
Lench), and the gothic vitriolic Mrs Sowerberry (Karen Thomas), with
their unpleasant daughter Charlotte (Jenna Claridge), and obnoxious
assistant Noah Claypole, played by Richard Jones. A colourful
performance by Liam Daley, as a cheery scheming villain Fagin, working
well with his young thieving gang to robust and humorous effect. The
tragic Nancy was a strongly sung and acted performance by Laura Oliver,
and Simon Jones was chillingly evil and sinister as Bill Sykes.
Supporting roles were ably covered by George Atkins (Mr Brownlow), Sue
O'Halloran (Mrs Bedwin), Iain Campbell (Doctor Grimwig) and Ellie
Campbell, delightful as Nancy's young friend, Bet. Within the limited
facilities of the venue and with clever, atmospheric lighting, the basic
set worked well and costumes were generally good with the right feel for
the period and location. Congratulations to the production team of Bob
Petersen (Director), Robert Edmunds (Musical Director) and Victoria
Graham (Choreographer) on achieving a fine presentation of Lionel Bart's
'family favourite' adaptation of the Charles Dickens classic.
Cast
Oliver Twist Leon Stawicky
Mr Bumble Phil Davies
Widow Corney Amanda Campbell
Paupers Assistants Gail Alford,
Mark Gerry
Mr Sowerberry Martyn Lench
Mrs Sowerberry Karen Thomas
Charlotte Sowerberry Jenna Claridge
Noah Claypole Richard Jones
Artful Dodger Matthew Brettle
Fagin Liam Daly
Charley Bates Conor Brewer
Nancy Laura Oliver
Bet Ellie Campbell
Mr Brownlow George Atkins
1st Bow Street Runner
Martyn Lench
2nd Bow Street Runner Iain
Campbell
Bill Sykes Simon Jones
Ms Bedwin Sue O'Halloran
Rose Seller Helen Jones
Milk Maid Helen Page
Strawberry Seller Gail Alford
Knife Grinder Martyn Lench
Long Song Seller Hilary Evans
Dr Grimwig Iain Campbell
Boy from Booksellers Conor
Brewer
Old Sally Heather Major
Old Annie Brenda Slaughter
Nightwatchmen Mark Gerry, Steve
Williams
Chairman Mark Gerry
Workhouse Children and Fagin's Gang
Ella Powell, Alice Liney, Megan Dodson, Eleanor Brewer, Bethan Thomas,
Bethany Petersen, Lottie Wigg, Dafydd Dodson, Rhys Degnan, Lloyd Degnan,
Sean Edwards, Conor Brewer, Manon Griffith, Ffion Cox, Tomas Brettle,
Leon Stawicky, Matthew Brettle
Chorus of Londoners
Martyn
Lench, Gail Alford, Helen Page, Heather Major, Steve Williams, Sara
Pickard, Richard Jones, Karen Thomas, Sue O'Halloran, Iain Camp bell,
Conor Brewer, Helen Jones, Ellie Campbell, Heather Major, Karen Claridge,
Hilary Evans, Abigail Dawson, Ceri Rawlings, Jenna Claridge, Fleur
Greening, Brenda Slaughter, Laura Hallas, Mark Gerry
Production Team
Director/Producer Bob Petersen
Assistant Director Anne Morris
Musical Director Robert Edmunds
Choreographer Victoria Graham
Stage Manager Wayne Brewer
Assistant Stage Manager / Properties
Raynor Phinnemore, Nathan Brown
Set Design & Construction
Rhys Stapleton, Wayne
Brewer, Raynor Phinnemore, Josh Cripp, , Nathan Brown
Lighting Wayne Brewer
Sound Nathan Brown
Wardrobe Mistresses Jan Stapleton,
Ros Jones
Business Manager Richard Jones
House Manager Bob Petersen
Bar Manager Ray Claridge
House Staff Members and Friends of
Hilltop
Box Office Brenda Slaughter |