Phoebe Wantz, local artist and gallery owner, gives praise for Muncie Civic Theatre's production of Oliver and its director, Laura Williamson. From Phoebe's Website:
Muncie Civic Theatre took on the challenge of Charles Dicken's dark and brooding work of man's inhumanity to man; one of his greatest and most gripping novels at its opening night tonight to a full house. When you arrive to see it at the theater expecting a dark "Oliver," a dramatic "Oliver," that you will feel the dirt under the character's fingernails....sorry, you will be disappointed.
The reason being that your face is going to break into a huge grin when dozens of half-starved workhouse children bounce onto the stage. You should feel pity and horror, but instead, because they are so beautifully choreographed, you delight in their sweet faces and voices as they sing "Food Glorious Food." It's showbiz at its finest, folks!
Director, Laura Williamson, has hit a home run with this one, and should be commended for her excellent work for her direction of a huge cast, especially a cast consisting of a lot of children, which were each and every one directed to perfection. They knew their part. They knew their choreography. They knew their songs. They did not miss a beat. Kudos, Madam Director!
Book, music and lyrics by Lionel Bart, and Bart was such a great tune smith that his version certainly misses a lot of Dicken's social anger and Gothic strangeness.
Mr. Bumble (Edward Conley) and The Widow Corney (Jennifer Arbogast), are people you'd love to hate, but you find yourself laughing during "I Shall Scream"...a funny, well done number by these two.
When we are introduced to Oliver (Ross DeLong) and he does the solo "Where Is Love," I kept asking myself, "where did they find this boy?" This was perfect casting if I ever saw it. His voice was clear, on pitch, and beautiful, and his look was what you wanted it to be.......plus.....he could act. Did Laura go to Central Casting? No, I found out later, he's from Upland, IN and drove to rehearsals. Lucky Muncie Civic!
Choreography by Cassie Alexander was amazing and in the street scene during "Consider Yourself" with The Artful Dodger (Joshua Ford), Oliver, and Ensemble it was particularly notable.
Fagin (Steve Brown) was played in a campy, slightly sinister manner, but also politely greeted Oliver with "I hope I have the honor of your most intimate acquaintance." Brown truly brought Fagin's character to life in "Reviewing the Situation," which was outstanding.
Nancy (Lisa Wade) was full of gusto and gumption in her role. The stage came alive when she stepped on it and put her heart and soul into her songs. She belted out the raucous "Oom-Pah-Pah" and brought us down with a beautiful rendition of "As Long As He Needs Me." The latter song should be a theme song for battered women, by the way.
Bill Sikes (Joe Redman) was menacing and mean, and a pall fell over the stage whenever he appeared....a dark cloud of doom....well done.
"Who Will Buy" was absolutely a beautifully staged number.....kudos again to the Director. The singers were magnificent and the voices were a feast to the ears.
Musical Director, Dr. Michael Williamson and his musicians need to be credited for a fine performance as well. The set was extraordinary and just what was needed for this show. Technical Director, David Sherrell did it again.
So, you're asking, did I like the play? Well, it's a good indication that it's a good play when there's a standing ovation at the end. There was. It's also a good indication it's a good play when people come out of the theatre singing or humming the songs. They did.
This is Dickens as jolly family entertainment stripped of the sense of solitude that has roots in the author's own experience and that makes Oliver Twist such a disturbing novel.
December 3rd-4th, 10th-12th, & 16th-18th. Thursday through Saturday performances are at 7:30pm and the Sunday matinee on December 12th is at 2:00pm.
