Oliver is great stuff by Starlight Youth
FOR an enjoyable evening at the theatre, you really can’t go wrong with Oliver!
Lionel Bart’s timeless adaptation of Charles Dickens’ story, with its famous characters and equally famous songs, is a classic of our times.
And at Rawlins Academy, in Quorn, the talented young actors of Starlight Youth Theatre did it proud.
‘Youth Theatre’. Some people see those words and think that it will be little more than a school play. Those that do are more wrong than Dr Grimwig when it comes to Starlight.
Many of their older members are already playing leading roles with senior theatre groups in Loughborough and the younger members will no doubt be following suit in due course.
In other words, groups like Starlight are the window into the future for amateur theatre in Loughborough. And on the evidence of this show, the future is in good hands.
All the young performers played their part in a very entertaining show for which director Liam Patrick, choreographer Jeanette Patrick-Cooper and musical director Hazel Needham deserve great credit.
Oliver Pinchess, as Oliver, suitably tugged at the heartstrings during his rendition of Where is Love and he was a nice foil to the energetic and enthusiastic Jacob Storey as the Artful Dodger.
Alex Hando and Maddie Dunston were fantastically quirky as the Sowerberrys while Ryan Moreland and Paige Brierley were both entertaining as Mr Bumble and Widow Corney respectively.
Harry Hercock was wonderfully menacing as the evil Bill Sykes, capturing the villainous nature of his character with real aplomb.
But the standout performances came from Olivia Needham as Nancy and Joe Harrison as Fagin.
Olivia captured the real emotion and strength of Nancy, feisty in the way she stood up to Bill and singing As Long As He Needs Me beautifully.
And Joe was just fantastic as Fagin, quirky, funny, solemn and engaging, his mannerisms and delivery made him highly watchable every time he was on stage and his rendition of Reviewing the Situation was the highlight of the night.
Great stuff Starlight, well done everyone.
Report by JS.