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Oliver! by San Diego Junior Theatre  Oliver Twist, the first novel by Charles Dickens, was put to music for the stage by Lionel Bart. Its tremendous score includes such favorites as Consider Yourself (At Home), Where Is Love, I'd Do Anything (For You), and Food, Glorious Food. In 1968, the film version deservedly won the Oscar for Best Picture.
Thirty-three years later, Scott Viets directs San Diego Junior Theatre's cast in performing this classic musical. Scott resisted the opportunities to lighten it up and focus on the comedic aspects of the play, instead presenting us with a version that is a bit darker without quite as much "fun" as usually seen. Of course, it is a serious story dealing with poverty, crime, spousal abuse, and the horrible conditions that faced young orphans in nineteenth-century London (conditions that were later improved thanks in part to the work of Charles Dickens who drew attention to their plight). Young Kiefer Shackelford does a nice job in the title role with a voice that can hit those high notes, although the orchestra, which played very well throughout, might want to tone it down just a little during his singing of Where Is Love so we can hear him hit all those notes. Phillip Bowen, as the Artful Dodger, is suitably cocky, confident, and caring as Oliver's teacher and Fagin's most trusted little pick pocket. Speaking of Fagin, Trevor Hollingsworth gives an absolutely standout performance as the most intriguing character in the story. Sophisticated one moment and rascally criminal the next, with a smooth voice and possessing a clever comic sense, Trevor commands the stage throughout. His (You Got To) Pick a Pocket or Two sung with the boys and his Reviewing the Situation solo were a couple of the best scenes of the show. Emily Lloyd plays the tragic Nancy, belting out the powerful and sad As Long as He Needs Me where she confirms her love for the brutish Bill Sykes (Remy Moses). Lauren Mickler gets a chance to display her great voice and cockney accent in the relatively smaller role of Nancy's sister, Bet. In a morbidly amusing scene that you won't see in the film version, funeral owners Mr. and Mrs. Sowerberry (Kit Medina and Amanda Robb) sing and dance about the pleasures of running a mortuary business. Also drawing a number of laughs is Kim Partrick as the Widow Corney while she torments Mr. Bumble (Wes Perry).  From the ensemble, Ashley Moore, Ashlea Armstrong, and Stephanie Ward feature the most elegant voices of the show as the rose, milk, and strawberry vendors asking Who Will Buy their wares. Hopefully we'll see them in more prominent roles very soon. The entire ensemble combined to electrify the stage in Who Will Buy and the rousing Consider Yourself scenes.
Oliver! marks the opening of San Diego Junior Theatre's 54th season, which has been performing in the comfortable Casa Del Prado Theatre since 1953. Next up is Shakespeare's Comedy of Errors. Rob Hopper San Diego Playbill ~ Cast ~
Oliver Twist: Kiefer Shackelford Artful Dodger: Phillip Bowen Bill Sykes: Remy Moses Mr. Bumble: Wes Perry Widow Corney: Kim Partrick Mr. Brownlow: Brian Polk Rose: Hannah Green Nancy: Emily Lloyd Bet: Lauren Mickler Mr. Sowerberry: Kit Medina Mrs. Sowerberry: Amanda Robb Charlotte: Darly Daley Noah Claypool: Andrew Levy Workhouse Boys/Fagin's Boys: Adam Carver Tom Dean Josh Herren Tyler Knell Jacob Sampson Kyle Crews Alex Fleming Daniel Jaffe Kyle Porter Toffer Williams Assistants/Customers/Governors/Londoners/Vendors: Courtney Alston Matthew Bohrer Hannah Green Andrew Levy Ashley Moore Amanda Robb Ashlea Armstrong Darly Daley Lori Jonestrask Alex Perez Stephanie Ward Mikhaela Beaudet-DeBus Dylan Breen Anthony Kaneaster Kit Medina Brian Polk Price Wooding Workhouse Children and Londoners: Nicki Elledge Rebecca Knell Shannon Partrick Kara Tsukashima Taylor Savitt Sophie Vener |