Mistreated orphan experiences misery and misadventures in Dickenson London. After starving in the workhouse, working for an undertaker, falling in with Fagin’s gang of child thieves, and, of course, learning to sing and dance – twelve-year-old Oliver Twist finds a happy ending.
Twisting Oliver Twist
Fans of the original book will notice marked differences among the story details of the musical. However, the musical remains true to the essence of the Charles Dickens novel.
It is not unusual for stage adaptations of classic works of literature to make changes to the plot and characters in order. This was the case regarding the recent Broadway musical version of A Tale of Two Cities, another well-known work of Dickens.
Oliver! omits to include certain of the novel’s key characters such as Monks and Rose, and other characters which are present in musical appear less significantly in than in the book. Simplifying many of the typical Dickens plot twists of Oliver Twist, the musical even more heavily focuses on Fagin and Nancy, who respectively sing two of the show's best known songs, “Reviewing the Situation” and “As Long As He Needs Me.”
The Original Oliver!
The first production of this musical opened on the West End of London in June 1960, and it also eventually transferred to Broadway. Among the critically acclaimed cast members was Georgia Brown, who played Nancy in both productions. Ironically, among the original cast of Fagin’s gang was a future co-star of the current Fagin, Rowan Atkinson. Then child actor Tony Robinson would later go on to play BlackAdder sidekick Baldrick.
Oliver! was revived on the West End in 1994. This production replaced the intimacy of the original production with lavishness, and the current production seems more heavily based on this lavish style.
The late Lionel Bart (1930-1999) is responsible for the music, lyrics, and book of the stage musical, which was turned into a film version in 1968. There was also a stage sequel to Oliver! entitled Dodger! The stage sequel was not based on a Dickens book, only borrowing characters from the author. Equally, Lionel Bart was not connected to the sequel.
The Production
The crowd scenes of this production are extremely well staged. The company is choreographed to move effectively, filling the space and realistically recreating the feeling and visual sight of a city. The viewer will almost feel immersed in Dickensian London, and the beautifully crafted sets assist in this impression.
The choreography of some musical numbers, such as the usually light-hearted “Oom-Pah-Pah,” is unnecessarily overt, especially considering, despite the strong subject matter, this is a show to which many parents will consider taking children. Overall, the revival exhibits high quality in production details, and the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane adds to the experience of the show.
The Cast
Rowan Atkinson of BlackAdder fame, plays the role of Fagin well, but there are points within the show in which one becomes very aware that he has been directed to play the part as if it were being played by one of his previously performed characters Mr. Bean or Edmund BlackAdder. Nonetheless, his stage presence is strong and his portrayal professional.
The roles of Nancy and Oliver were cast through a reality television series, I’ll Do Anything, also the title of one of the show’s songs. Jodie Prenger, who won the role of Nancy, does exhibit talent. However, she jitters and fidgets distractingly while singing, and her voice is not as impressive as some of the songs her character sings. Equally, the orchestra sometimes sounds as though it is fighting her with the music. Her acting seems to be stronger and more emotive.
Burn Gorman is extremely unimpressive as Bill Sikes. When he speak-sings “My Name,” the song which sets the premise of the villainous character of Nancy’s abusive lover, he completely fails to insight fear. Instead audiences will find themselves boringly questioning when the song will finally end. Gorman consistently lacks menace as Sikes, and he does not succeed in making the character interesting.
The children of the cast give uneven performances. The talented tots seem to be skilled in acting, singing, or dancing. However, few of the children seem to exhibit a combination of all the talents required. However, Oliver is loveable and sympathetic.
Arguably, the strongest cast members actually play the supporting comical roles of the Bumbles and the Sowerberrys.
Critique
This revival is an uneven production. Some portions of the show are well paced and entertaining. Other portions of the show are disappointing and almost boring. Some of the information given in the script or songs is garbled, allowing important understanding of the story to be minimised, and areas of the production seem more like an impressive amateur staging than a professional mounting on the West End.
However, the revival is still in previews, and it may be improved. It is set to open on 14 January, 2009, and has an open-ended run at the stunning Theatre Royal, Drury Lane.
