Rich musical production adds sweet twist to ‘Oliver’ At a glance
THEATER REVIEW /
Gallery Player's vibrant production of “Oliver!” finds both the sharp comedy and the sweet sentiment in what can be an overwrought musical.
Although the acting is strong, the musical performances are particularly and consistently striking.
Lionel Bart's musical, directed with energy by Pamela Hill, sanitizes and sweetens Charles Dickens' “Oliver Twist,” softening its horrors in favor of upbeat musical numbers.
If this makes for some odd tonal shifts, especially toward the end of the second act, it also makes for an entertaining — if not thought-provoking — evening.
Oliver (a touching and talented Carson Kittaka) journeys from
Gallery Players will present “Oliver!” at 8 p.m. Saturday, 2:30 p.m. Sunday, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 14, 8 p.m. Dec. 16 and 2:30 p.m. Dec. 17 at Jewish Community Center’s Roth/Resler Theatre, 1125 College Ave. Tickets cost $15 to $25. Call 614231-2731 or visit www. jccgalleryplayers.org.
a gruel-dispensing workhouse to the workroom of a creepy couple of undertakers (the comically gruesome Scott Wilson and Jennifer Myers) and then onto the street, where he is taken by a young pickpocket (Nicholas Brunet) to the lair of avaricious Fagin, played with delightful hamminess by Ted Amore.
Here he also meets good-hearted Nancy (Kelsey Hopkins) and her abusive boyfriend, Bill (Benny Zelkowicz), whose relationship the musical gives an unfortunate romantic slant.
Special credit should go to music director Allan Finkelstein. The vocals are balanced; the lyrics, crystal-clear. An eight-member orchestra, with Finkelstein conducting, blends deftly with the vocals.
The musical, with big production numbers such as “Consider Yourself” and “OomPah-Pah,” benefits from a large ensemble cast, including a host of charming children.
But it also pays attention to quieter moments, such as Kittaka's poignant version of “Where Is Love,” or a gorgeously harmonized “Who Will Buy?”
Although music is at the heart of the production, it also offers some beguiling set pieces with minor characters drawn directly from Dickens, such as interludes with pompous Beadle Bumble (a rich-voiced Bill Hafner) and the Widow Corney (a comically shrewish Trish Gardner).
A multilevel set helps the action flow, and Hill knows how to keep numerous characters in motion at once without confusing the audience.
Rosemary Cullison's costumes add a sense of spectacle without visual clutter, and Derryck Menard's intense lighting emphasizes melodramatic moments.
The production has moments of violence, but more is implied than shown. Good humor and playfulness dominate the action, making the show suitable for all ages.