Oliver! (Bournville Musical Theatre Company)
Lionel Bart’s masterpiece of a musical must be highly ranked in the ‘most widely performed’ category which means every production has to differentiate itself from the array of previous interpretations and the likely future versions in order to stand out and this one from Bournville Musical Theatre Society certainly does that under the exemplary direction of Terry Wheddon and with some prolific choreography from Chloe Turner and classy musical direction from Chris Corcoran.
Sophie Wood’s Nancy is exciting and emotional in one package with a powerful voice and touchingly vulnerable performance of ‘As Long As He Needs Me’, I almost wanted to call the Bow Street Runners myself as Jimmy Van Hear bludgeoned her character to death as a gritty, authentic and quite openly scary Bill Sikes.
As with many child lead roles both Oliver and the Artful Dodger are shared by two actors and at this performance Billy Stait was exceptional as a scared, confused and easily led Oliver Twist with Jack Smyth as a particularly commanding and well voiced Dodger.
Phil Snowe’s Fagin has entertainingly comic traits, extravagant arm gestures and brings something individual and engaging to what is now an iconic role that virtually every actor of a certain age is keen to portray.
Kris Evans as Mr Bumble and Jill Hughes as Widow Corney are the archetypal bickering couple even before they are married both providing larger than life acting performance and a particularly appealing and well applauded performance of ‘I Shall Scream’. I’m a particular fan of the song ‘That’s Your Funeral’, sadly omitted from the 1968 Movie presumably for timing reasons or because Leonard Rossiter and Hylda Baker weren’t keen to sing but, performed with vigour by Jonathan Eastwood and Karen Lane in this production.
Natalie Buzzard is a particularly frisky Charlotte Sowerberry, Stuart McDiarmid a domineering Noah Claypole and Rhian Heeley a well voiced Bet. John Clay and Colette Preece are perfectly matched as a kindly yet forthright Mr Brownlow and his motherly housekeeper Mrs Bedwin along with John Morrison delivering a comic cameo as Dr Grimwig.
It would be unfair not to mention the voices of Lily Moore, Rachel Fox, Claire Brough and Adam Heeley as the Street Sellers who lead the imposing ‘Who Will Buy’ number or the two teams of boys who make-up the vital children element of this production.
Suffice to say you need to see this for yourself before the run ends on Saturday 11th May 2019, so grab your tickets while you can because they won’t ‘be back soon’.
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