Oliver! (Manor Musical Theatre Company)

In the auspicious surroundings of Royal Sutton Coldfield Town Hall there is yet another classic taking to the stage in the form of Lionel Bart's, Oliver! I suspect this story will never lose appeal and will continue to entertain audiences long after I have hung-up my keyboard and stopped writing reviews.

Manor Musical Theatre Company have filled the stage with a remarkable entertainment marvel as young orphan Oliver Twist, treated badly at the workhouse, sold to an undertaker, runs away and joins a thieves kitchen and is eventually reunited with his grandfather, proving that good will come in the end to those that deserve it.

Young Twist on this occasion is played by Jack Brayley-Boddington and is the epitome of scared young orphan with that perfect boy soprano voice needed to create an engaged silence during his performance of 'Where Is Love ?'. On the opposite side of the coin is an ebullient performance from Jamie Wilson as The Artful Dodger commanding the stage as he leads the cast (and many of the audience) in a full-on performance of 'Consider Yourself'.

Back at the workhouse where the journey begins Paul Bickerton delivers an authoritative performance as Beadle (apparently by definition a minor parish officer dealing with petty offenders, although I suspect this character sees himself as more major than minor) Mr Bumble, alongside his soon to be (rather domineering) wife Mrs Corney an imperious performance (with a twinkle in her eye) by Lynette Coffey.

Having had the temerity to 'ask for more' the boy of course must be sold into a job and the transaction happens after much haggling with Mr & Mrs Sowerberry (Richard Parry and Jane Ware) undertakers of this parish. It has always been a disappoint to me that their song 'Not your Funeral' didn't make it into the 1968 Movie, I guess Leonard Rossiter and Hylda Baker were not well known as singers but, that cannot be said of Parry and Ware who deliver an unparalleled comedy performance to the ultimate joy of all.

After a night with we imagine little sleep under the counter, Oliver is berated by the Sowerberry's apprentice Noah Claypole (Ollie White) and their flirtatious daughter Charlotte (Sasha Marsh) before making his escape to London.

Where you might ask is a young orphan alone in London going to end-up without any money or a place to stay, well with the help of Dodger, that will be with a 'kindly old gentleman' called Fagin, a performance of genuine class from Barry Styles, you can't help liking him even though you know he is far from on the right side of the law, just sit back and enjoy 'Reviewing the Situation' it's a gem.

Fagin of course has adult acquaintances from the 'wrong side of the road' as well, not least of all career criminal Bill Sikes a genuinely unnerving performance from Peter Bushby and his girlfriend (although nobody is quite sure why she stays with him) Nancy, played by Paula O'Hare with literally a voice to die for, whether in the ballad 'As Long As He Needs Me' or the up-tempo numbers 'Oom-Pah-Pah' and 'It's A Fine Life' during which she is joined by another great voice from Eliza Tall as Bet.

At this point I should give a massive thumbs-up to the youth performers of Team Jelly, endearing and talented are just two words to describe them. Sadly as a reviewer one only gets to see the one performance and therefore in this case not Team Custard but, I am sure they are equally amazing to watch so whichever performance you see, I am confident you will be charmed and entertained in equal measure.

Of course there has to be a happy ending although not without some twists and turns and a couple of deaths (in particular Bill beating Nancy to death for betraying him, always an emotional scene and incredibly well played by Bushby and O'Hare) but, Oliver is finally united with his grandfather Mr Brownlow (Ray Lawrence) and in the arms of house servant Mrs Bedwin (Susan Busby) a touching moment.

It is difficult to keep productions of this well performed musical fresh but, Manor Musical Theatre Company have managed to do that with an extensive and enthusiastic cast, in the capable hands of Pam and James Garrington (Directors), Tim Harding (Musical Director) and Jennie Mason (Choreographer).

Don't miss this one, for a couple of hours block out the pains of the real world and have 'A Fine Life' as part of a well loved Dickens Story.

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