Theatre League's Oliver! at Symphony Hall
(out of 
)Mark S.P. Turvin
(home office) (602) 912-0117
I can be reached for comment via e-mail at: mspt@goldfishpublishers.com
(out of )There are "A" musicals, and there are "B" musicals. Examples of "A" musicals include Fiddler, Dolly, and Oklahoma! Even some recent shows can be included on that list, such as Phantom and Les Mis. These musicals are top-notch, with spectacular stories, well-integrated songs and dialogue, and the kind of music that stays with audiences forever. Then there's the "B" musicals. These are shows that were successful, enjoyable, but not quite enough to hoist themselves to that next level. Something held them back, and has relegated them to only occasional revivals. I Do! I Do! is an example, as is Once Upon A Mattress, and How To Succeed... Perhaps they're dated, or the music, book or lyrics aren't quite as impressive. That doesn't stop them from being enjoyable productions, just not quite as enjoyable as a My Fair Lady or Guys and Dolls. And so it is for the popular musical, made into a much better movie, Oliver!.
Everyone knows Oliver! Everyone remembers enjoyable songs such as "Consider Yourself," "As Long As He Needs Me," "Food, Glorious Food" and "Who Will Buy?" The show has its share of cuteness, including the adorable characters of Oliver Twist and The Artful Dodger, the lovely Nancy, the wily Fagin, and the evil Bill Sykes. What a lot of people might not realize is that the movie version, which many have seen, cut some of the extraneous songs and added some much needed dialogue and plot. Seeing a production of Oliver! is like seeing a light version of Dickens and the movie. To Theatre League and Director/Choreographer Jon Engstrom's credit, while the script may have its faults, the best way to raise it a notch is to fill it with bankable, talented stars. That they've done, bringing in the wonderful actress and singer Andrea McArdle of original Annie fame (another "B" musical), and the surprising and enjoyable Richard Kline of TV's Three's Company. Add to this a talented ten year old, Christopher Winsor, as the precocious Oliver, and an equally talented Cody Christopher as The Artful Dodger, and several other supporting leads of equal measure, and the show manages to sustain itself based on sheer exuberance and enjoyable performances. Mr. Engstrom direction and choreography is fast-paced and frenetic, only occasionally giving the audience the chance to notice the thinness of the script.
Ms. McArdle has matured in leaps and bounds since this reviewer first saw her on Broadway exactly twenty years ago. Her voice is the strongest in the cast, and she is able to take this limited, all-too-absent role and make it a bright spot in the show. In the comedic role of Fagin, Mr. Kline has a solid voice and great comic timing, interacting in funny ways with his pickpocket boys and playing fearfully off of Bill Sykes equally well. The youngsters in the show, especially Mr. Winsor and Mr. Christopher, have solid voices and stage presence. Almost all of the supporting leads, especially Calvin Remsberg as the workhouse owner Mr. Bumble, are wonderful and give life to their ill-defined roles. The inclusion of The Phoenix Boys Choir is also a treat, allowing local talent to interact with established stars.
Musical Director Lloyd Cooper handles the orchestra professionally, though occasionally overpowering the smaller children's voices. The set designer was unbilled, but creatively used a versatile wooden set of many various levels to represent the many different locations, although it does not work for the more "posh" scenes. Jonathan Wyman's lighting design was generally solid as was Mark Cowburn's sound, though there were some problems that should right themselves during the run.
If you're a fan of the musical Oliver!, as this reviewer, admittedly, is not, then this production is worthwhile. If you feel as I do, then you'll still enjoy the spirited and, in some cases, impressive performances. Theatre League's production is enjoyable, despite the unmemorable scenes and songs. This is one of those situations where a collection of "A" performances salvage this "B" script, making for a fun, if a little long, evening.
Production Details:
Oliver! Book, Music and Lyrics by Lionel Bart
Symphony Hall, Phoenix
952-2881
September 9th-September 14th, 1997