Reviewed by Tony Annicone
The Company Theatre’s epic musical for their Christmas season is “Oliver.” The show is a British musical with music and lyrics by Lionel Bart and is based on the novel by Charles Dickens. It takes place in Victorian England and was the first musical adaptation of a famous Dickens work to become a stage hit. “Oliver” premiered in the West End of London on June 30, 1960 and ran for 2,618 performances. It opened on Broadway on January 6, 1963 and ran for 774 performances. The film version came out in 1968 and won six Academy Awards. The darkness of the Dickens novel is lightened up by the beautiful music. The storyline is about the well-known orphan, Oliver Twist who asks for seconds of the gruel served at the workhouse. The repercussions of this act find him being sold to a funeral parlor for three pounds and he then learns how to pick pockets with Fagin and his gang of thieves. This is where he meets the lovely barmaid, Nancy who is torn between her love for the dastardly criminal, Bill Sykes and her desire to do the right thing. Directors Zoe Bradford and Jordie Saucerman infuse their performers with their knowledge of these Dickens characters and elicit superb performances from them while Steve Bass and his eleven piece orchestra supply a sumptuous sound to the singing voices of the cast. Sally Ashton Forrest’s marvelous dances stop the show with their brilliant execution. Their combined efforts create the must see show of this winter season.
