What a joyous evening – our dismal, winter transformed last night by Oliver! The Musical at Oxford’s New Theatre, performed by the super-talented OXOPS (Oxford Operatic Society) this week.
‘How we managed to restrain ourselves from singing along, I don’t know’
How we managed to restrain ourselves from singing along, I don’t know, because from the word go as the action opens in Dickens’ Victorian workhouse, OXOPS’ glorious cast of children and adults exuberantly deliver those wonderfully familiar songs.
From ‘Food, Glorious Food‘ and ‘Consider Yourself‘ to ‘You’ve Got to Pick a Pocket or Two‘ they raised the New Theatre roof, the stage packed with singers and dancers in this spirited, joyful production.
‘There were so many stand-out performances it’s hard to know where to start’
There were so many stand-out performances it’s hard to know where to start; Steve Mellin played Fagin’s tricky role with aplomb, Nicola Taylor’s Nancy gloriously dispensed love and self-destruction in equal measure, the superb Guy Grimsley as Mr Bumble, Nicola Jones’ Widow Corney, Dave Crewe and Rachel Haydon as Mr and Mrs Sowerby, Isaac Talbut as an incredibly assured and talented Artful Dodger; Freddie Crawshaw’s angelic voiced Oliver, the rose seller, Rose Lander . . . we could go on and on.
The orchestra was also top-notch, pacy and professional, Mariette Richter‘s bitter sweet klezmer-style violin accompaniment to Fagin’s signature song Reviewing the Situation, highlighted the heart of the story, as he faces his own inevitable transformation.
‘just as Dickens, in 1838, didn’t intend us to look away, nor should we now’
It has to be said however, that the story throws up some very awkward moments, not only around anti-Semitism, but also the violence radiating from Bill Sikes, and his coercive relationship with Nancy. The #MeToo movement arriving too late for her sadly.
In a similar vein, the Victorian children seem especially vulnerable in the light of the child abuse scandals emerging since the musical was first performed. And while the magnificent music lifts us over these disgraces, there’s no doubt that just as Dickens, in 1838, didn’t intend us to look away, nor should we now.
‘OXOPS’ Oliver offers super quality, great sets, stunning costumes, uplifting music and bountiful direction’
Directed by Andrew Walter and Chris Payne, with choreography by Sasha Blaszko and Kerry Crewe, OXOPS’ Oliver offers super quality, great sets, stunning costumes, uplifting music and bountiful direction, which might explain why the New Theatre was packed to the rafters with such an excellent and enthusiastic Oxford audience.
An am dram production in name only then, because the finished product was as professional as they come. So give yourself a treat, and go along. Oliver! The Musical is at Oxford’s New Theatre until Saturday February 3. BOOK HERE
Sheila Bailey
