Northwest Savoyards’ musical ‘Oliver!’ sparkles
Published 9:42 pm Thursday, October 22, 2009
Dickens’ most beloved and well-known work presents the perfect means for the musical theater troupe Northwest Savoyards to share a treasure chest of timeless songs.
At the close of the curtain, the Savoyards wound up producing a jewel of a show with a talented cast of mostly kids shining like gemstones in a millionaire’s necklace.
So steal yourself away to see “Oliver” at Historic Everett Theatre through Nov. 1.
This is a show that keeps the dialogue light but emphasizes the meat of this musical with the music, kicking off with a rousing “Food, Glorious Food,” and keeping a quick-paced tempo throughout the wonderful score.
The Lionel Bart score of songs are almost all classics: “Who Will Buy,” “Consider Yourself,” “I’d Do Anything,” “As Long As He Needs Me.”
It’s a challenging score, with some challenging notes for this young cast to reach, but kudos to musical director David Spring, who coaxed these kids to sing lovely for their supper and then some.
The dandy dancing went hand in hand with the good music, so hats off to choreographer Kate Klingery, who achieved a lot with a tight stage footprint.
The centerpiece of this kid cast is Oliver, played by cherub-faced Jack Rogers, who possessed a perfect “melancholy expression” along with a voice mature enough to handle the heartbreaking “Where is Love.” You’ll need a tissue for that one.
Oliver Twist is at the heart of this fairy tale version of Dickens’ London in which an orphan boy winds up on the streets and in the hands of a pickpocketing band of thieves. Oliver manages to maintain a pureness of heart and is rewarded by being rescued by his long-lost, well-to-do grandfather.
Among the notable members of this troupe of thieves is their ringleader, Mr. Fagin, played fabulously by John Klise, who was silly and sinister and a showstopper during his solo number, “I’m Reviewing the Situation.”
The fetching Meagan Castillo as Nancy brought more tears with her stunning rendition of “As Long As He Needs Me.”
The duo of Mr. Bumble and Widow Corney, played by Nich Fuchs and Claudette Hatcher, absolutely upped the ante on devilish.
The part of the Artful Dodger might be forever imprinted on our collective mind — at least on mine — as belonging to the late Jack Wild, who earned an Academy Award nomination for his 1968 film portrayal of the Cockney-voiced, cocky, top-hat wearing thief.
With that in mind, Elijah Ostrow, who plays Dodger here, has got the Cockney down, but it wouldn’t hurt to kick the cocky up a notch.
Theresa Goffredo: 425-339-3424; goffredo@heraldnet.com.
