@ King’s Theatre, Edinburgh, until Sat 7 March 2015
With so many ‘high concept’ musicals around, how will the old classic family-friendly Oliver! fare? Based on the much loved Dickens story of the orphaned urchin who falls in with Fagin and the Artful Dodger and their den of thieves, Lionel Bart’s 1960s musical reflects a lot of the barbs of the original novel that shone a light on London’s Victorian underbelly. In austerity Britain it would be easy to draw comparisons between the abused runaway Oliver Twist and today’s world of the disenfranchised poor and the well-off classes who exploit them. Fagin sings, “Why should we break our backs, stupidly paying tax?”. Sound familiar?
Bart’s joyous, award-winning hit is full of heart and it lends itself wonderfully to Southern Light Opera Company‘s ambitious community production (somehow ‘amateur’ doesn’t do it justice) with its cast of thousands. Of course some of it is creaky, especially the scene changes, but this is not a super slick, over-rehearsed, over-miked London touring show and is so much the better for that.
As for the main players – especially the cruel undertakers Mr and Mrs Sowerberry (Alan Hunter and Averyl Nash), Fagin (Charlie Monroe) and Nancy (Lori Flanagan) – all are excellent. Oliver is played by Max Morrison with self-assured relish.
The singers and dancers (choreographer Janice Bruce brings out the best in her non-professional hoofers) and the 21 piece orchestra throw themselves body and soul into some great old songs like Food, Glorious Food and Consider Yourself. Andy Johnson’s staging makes the most of this huge cast and he brings out the moving message of the show: behind all the jollity some people live in a grim world but make the best of it. As Nancy sings, “Keep the candle burning until it burns out. It’s a fine life.”