REVIEW
Oliver
Basildon Operatic
Towngate Theatre – Basildon
29th May 2024 - 1st June 2024
Oliver
Basildon Operatic
Towngate Theatre – Basildon
29th May 2024 - 1st June 2024
What a Brilliant Show
No matter how many times you see the show or watch the film, the musical Oliver, is still a brilliant watch. This version by Basildon Operatic is no different. It is a full on production, with an enormous cast, strong singing and excellent choreography. This is most obvious in the set pieces with the large group of children and others.
The musical gets off to an auspicious start with Food, Glorious Food as the starving orphans dream of having a decent meal and move around the stage. It’s not easy to pull off a show with so many characters and moving pieces, but director Josh Handley and the Director & Choreographer Vikki Purton, together with the music director Alex Wood, have effectively organised the large cast. They have emphasised the strengths of each performer, so that Lionel Bart’s musical is as entertaining as it should be.
The premise of Oliver, which takes place in the poverty of Victorian London — is one that fascinates children and adults alike. The young cast of ragamuffin orphans obviously enjoy all the ensemble numbers, and play them with gusto and attack. Of course, the main orphan is Oliver himself who is fetchingly played by Mark James, and he tears at the heartstrings. When he sings Where is Love, sitting on a coffin, it would have brought tears to a glass eye.
As his friend the Artful Dodger, the rogue with a kind heart (Ethan Mahony) is at once precocious, and cheeky with a great deal of charm. When he parades around as a ‘toff’, the audience are reduced to laughter.
There were some beautiful set pieces between the main characters. The flirty scene between Mr Bumble and the eccentric Widow Corney (Jane Gillam) is a great pairing. Sean Hynes as Mr Bumble has a strong voice and dominates every scene when he appears. The scene with the funeral directors, the Sowerberrys played by Joe Drury Snr and Diane Hills as two creepy, spiderlike characters is hysterical.
Of course, the character of Fagin is the one that everyone remembers. Played by Gareth Barton, he is alternately funny, greedy, grasping and also at certain times quite poignant. He also plays the Jewishness without overdoing it. His singing of the famous song Reviewing the Situation is a master class in singing, acting and breaking the forth wall to the Klezmer music.
The main antagonist of Oliver is the snarling Bill Sykes who, is written as a one-dimensional dark and venomous villain. This brutal character is well played by Darrell Jackson with a booming voice, and he stalks the stage with menace. However, he seems to have lost Bullseye.
Finally, Nancy (Emma Lambert) the tart with a heart dominates the stage. She is a larger than life character with a strong voice, bags of attack and energy, particularly in the ensemble pieces such as Oom -Pah -Pah. However, her rendition of As Long as He Needs Me, is sung with great sensitivity.
This production is very well cast, with all the parts played by performers with believable acting skills and strong voices. There isn’t a weak one amongst them. Lionel Bart’s show not only captivates, but touches on essential motifs like family, home, and love. It is a classic musical for that reason and never dates. It has humour, pathos and great songs.
Review Jacquee Storozynski-Toll
The show continues:-
Friday 31st May
7:30 pm
Saturday 1st Jun
2:30 pm
7:30 pm
Tickets from £22.00
Groups 10+ discount
Save 10% off your booking if you book 10+ tickets in one transaction.
For Group Reservations, please contact the Box Office team on 01268 205 300 or email [email protected]
Concession tickets
Please note that Concession tickets for under 16s, ages 60+, registered disabled and carers are available on the 2.30pm matinee performances only
The musical gets off to an auspicious start with Food, Glorious Food as the starving orphans dream of having a decent meal and move around the stage. It’s not easy to pull off a show with so many characters and moving pieces, but director Josh Handley and the Director & Choreographer Vikki Purton, together with the music director Alex Wood, have effectively organised the large cast. They have emphasised the strengths of each performer, so that Lionel Bart’s musical is as entertaining as it should be.
The premise of Oliver, which takes place in the poverty of Victorian London — is one that fascinates children and adults alike. The young cast of ragamuffin orphans obviously enjoy all the ensemble numbers, and play them with gusto and attack. Of course, the main orphan is Oliver himself who is fetchingly played by Mark James, and he tears at the heartstrings. When he sings Where is Love, sitting on a coffin, it would have brought tears to a glass eye.
As his friend the Artful Dodger, the rogue with a kind heart (Ethan Mahony) is at once precocious, and cheeky with a great deal of charm. When he parades around as a ‘toff’, the audience are reduced to laughter.
There were some beautiful set pieces between the main characters. The flirty scene between Mr Bumble and the eccentric Widow Corney (Jane Gillam) is a great pairing. Sean Hynes as Mr Bumble has a strong voice and dominates every scene when he appears. The scene with the funeral directors, the Sowerberrys played by Joe Drury Snr and Diane Hills as two creepy, spiderlike characters is hysterical.
Of course, the character of Fagin is the one that everyone remembers. Played by Gareth Barton, he is alternately funny, greedy, grasping and also at certain times quite poignant. He also plays the Jewishness without overdoing it. His singing of the famous song Reviewing the Situation is a master class in singing, acting and breaking the forth wall to the Klezmer music.
The main antagonist of Oliver is the snarling Bill Sykes who, is written as a one-dimensional dark and venomous villain. This brutal character is well played by Darrell Jackson with a booming voice, and he stalks the stage with menace. However, he seems to have lost Bullseye.
Finally, Nancy (Emma Lambert) the tart with a heart dominates the stage. She is a larger than life character with a strong voice, bags of attack and energy, particularly in the ensemble pieces such as Oom -Pah -Pah. However, her rendition of As Long as He Needs Me, is sung with great sensitivity.
This production is very well cast, with all the parts played by performers with believable acting skills and strong voices. There isn’t a weak one amongst them. Lionel Bart’s show not only captivates, but touches on essential motifs like family, home, and love. It is a classic musical for that reason and never dates. It has humour, pathos and great songs.
Review Jacquee Storozynski-Toll
The show continues:-
Friday 31st May
7:30 pm
Saturday 1st Jun
2:30 pm
7:30 pm
Tickets from £22.00
Groups 10+ discount
Save 10% off your booking if you book 10+ tickets in one transaction.
For Group Reservations, please contact the Box Office team on 01268 205 300 or email [email protected]
Concession tickets
Please note that Concession tickets for under 16s, ages 60+, registered disabled and carers are available on the 2.30pm matinee performances only