Oliver!

12th - 15th May 2015 , Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds

Director: Louise Travis
Musical Director: Simon Pearce
Choreographer: Heather Couch
Production Manager: Jessica Elvin & Liam Corbett

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Cast

Oliver: Jago Cooper/Harry Falkingham
Dodger: Andrew Dougherty /Michael Heslop
Charley: Matthew Barber/Zac Rogers
Mr Bumble: Benjamin Hill
Widow Corney: Mandy Morrish
Mr Sowerby/Dr Grimwig: Greg Elvin
Mrs Sowerby: Jackie Strahm
Noah: Ryan Ingram
Charlotte: Laura Barnard
Fagin: Jeremy Warbrick
Nancy: Emma Ward
Bill Sikes: Callum Limer
Bet: Emma Rutherford
Mr Brownlow: Colin Musgrove
Mrs Bedwin: Fiona Barker
Old Sally: Debbie Croll

Nancy's Gang:
Laura Barnard/ Rachelle Curtis/ Beth Jennings/Alice Levey

Fagin's Gang:
Phillip Bayliss, Chandi Brading, Alice Brindley, Megan Cater, Hope Codrington Fernandez, Ruby Decent, Katie Edwards, Abigail Fleckney, Esmee Fox, Sarayah Hayes, Ella-Rose O'Grady, William Lowden, Riley Stevens, Matilda Stone, Hattie Strahm, Josh Talbot, Lauren Turner, Emily Weston

Workhouse Children:
Lottie Adams, Matilda Alexander, Ella Batty, Imogen Cannon, Eva Mills, Verity Patel, Jeremy Pirt, Hannah Turpie, India Warren, Shannon Warren

Chorus:
Trish Barnard, Catherine Dale, Diane Elvin, Damon Morrish, Ben Musgrove, Adam Stewart, Robert Utting

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"Robert Wright of Theatre World Internet Magazine:
"There were certainly no downsides in this extraordinarily vibrant and most enjoyable production of ‘Oliver’ by the most talented Operatic and Dramatic Society. To find any fault would mean looking very deep and result in some petty unnecessary and minor detail.

The musical was first performed in 1960 and judging by tonight’s enthusiastic full house it is still a firm family favourite. The Charles Dickens story is well known and this particular production combined the very sad, the awful violence and the highly comical in perfect harmony. The toe tapping music and songs is icing on the cake. The pace of the show was spot on and the slick scene changes ensured continuity without distraction. The versatile set captured the dark nature of the plot.

Tonight’s Oliver was Jago Cooper (alternate nights Harry Falkingham) and his excellently focussed portrayal drew out the politeness and innocence of the role.

The cheekiness and streetwise nature of Dodger was captured in great detail by Andrew Dougherty (alternate nights Michael Heslop) and he was great fun to watch.

Mr Bumble (Benjamin Hill) and Widow Corney (Many Morrish) were a most amusing duo which developed into a comical relationship made in hell!

Emma Ward had the role of Nancy and what a phenomenal performance she gave of this most colourful and tragic role. She has a terrific stage presence with a most captivating singing voice with facial expressions to match – perfect casting.

Jeremy Warbrick was the gently spoken Fagin, and reviewing his situation is summed up as a most imaginative and entertaining portrayal of the miser.

We must not forget the numerous little urchins aka Fagin’s gang and workhouse children who clearly put heart and soul into their roles. Great singing and choreography but room for improvement in their table manners of course!

Bringing doom and violence to the fore was of course Bill Sikes which Callum Limer enacted with vigour and scaring the daylights out of anyone who dared to cross his path.

His long suffering dog Bullseye was in fact 2 year old Lola who is an Old Tyne American Bulldog. When she first came on stage she seemed bemused by the audience, but is was reassuring to see her tail wag at the same time! It is an awkward role for a dog to play because of the noise and violence but she was exemplary.

The orchestra tucked out of sight in the pit was under the direction of Simon Pearce and they gave a most invigorating accompaniment to the proceedings.

This energetic production of Oliver was a sheer joy to watch. The highs and lows of this emotional story was a roller coaster ride and most poignantly delivered. The fact that most wrongs were righted in the end gave a feeling of justice."