Here’s a little memory I found the other day. It’s a couple of photos and stage reviews of a show (Oliver!) I performed in. I forgot about it until a social media prompt reminded me this week. (The original transcript of the review is here!).
Book, Music & Lyrics: Lionel Bart. PRIMA (Pine Rivers Musical Association Inc., @ Holy Spirit Auditorium, Bray Park, Qld. Director: Melanie Evans. Music Director: Terry Million. Choreographer: Shelley Marshall. Oct 19 – 27.
Charles Dickens Oliver Twist is one of the great British novels, and Lionel Bart’s musical adaptation of it is one of the great British musicals. PRIMA’s production ticked all the right boxes, with Bart’s score the strength of the performance.
Michael Forman was a very impressive Fagin, bringing out the Jewishness of the character, dancing impishly, and singing the role with conviction. His “Pick a Pocket or Two” and “Reviewing the Situation” were a delight.
Chantelle Hill was a lusty, busty Nancy who delivered the show’s most famous ballad and its reprise, “As Long As He Needs Me”, in true diva style.
One couldn’t ask for a better Mr Bumble than that created by Colin Simpson, who undoubtedly had the best voice in the show.
Clayton Ellis, as Oliver, looked appropriately angelic and sang in a reedy-thin boy-soprano like every other Oliver I’ve ever seen.
The chorus also sang well (“Consider Yourself” was particularly good) but this London Town seemed to be inhabited by mostly serving wenches and young girls with a notable absence of men and boys.
This was the first community theatre production I had seen where every performer in the cast, including the kids, had their own microphone. It meant there was no trouble in hearing everything, but unfortunately the audio mix was frequently muffled and muddy, and at times in the fight scenes, distorted. Terry Million’s musical direction was pacy, and Shelley Marshall’s dance routines perfunctory.
Second review:
ARTS ALLIANCE REVIEW (by Lois and Peter Sullivan). OLIVER Book, Music and Lyrics by Lionel Bart …
Venue: Holy Spirit Auditorium, 102 Sparkes Road, Bray Park Presented by: PRIMA (Pine Rivers Musical Association Incorporated) Director: Melanie Evans Musical Director: Terry Million Choreographer: Shelley Marshall Review of show Friday 19 October 2012, commencing 7.00 pm Running time, including length of interval, 2 ½ hours On opening night parts played were: Oliver (Matthew Latter) Congratulations on your first show Artful Dodger (Alex Kuchmenko) Charley Bates (Andrew Warwick) Audience was a mixed aged group ranging from 4 to 74 and almost filled the auditorium.
The play opens with the children in the workhouse and the enthusiastic singing of Food Glorious Food. Oliver asks for “more” and, as a result, is taken out and sold to an undertaker. He escapes from there and joins up with the Artful Dodger, who takes him to Fagin (Michael Forman), who trains him as a pick-pocket. Oliver’s first attempt at his new craft ends in disaster and he is caught in the act and is handed to Mr Brownlow. He is sent by Mr Brownlow to the bookseller to exchange and pay for books. On the way, he joins with street vendors to sing “Who will buy?”. He is then caught by Nancy and the villain Bill Sykes and taken back to Fagan’s Den. Nancy has a change of heart and protects Oliver from Bill Sykes. She decides to take Oliver back to Brownlow, who is in fact Oliver’s Grandfather. However, Bill Sykes follows them both – kills Nancy and runs off with Oliver. A crowd forms and searches for Sykes and Oliver and they find them both on London Bridge. Sykes is shot by the Police and Oliver is returned to his Grandfather.
Michael Forman morphed into Fagin and gave a very professional performance. He was our Man of the Match! His ensemble work with the children in “Pick a pocket or two” was very memorable. Alex Kuchmenko was an enthusiastic and boisterous Artful Dodger. Nancy – Chantelle Hill was an audience favourite with her powerful voice.
The chorus work and choreography were excellent and well displayed in “Who Will Buy”.
Scenery: Set Design and construction—Tenille Flower and Wayne Stuart. This was an impressive feature, with unobtrusive changes made throughout the show. I loved the use of the bridge as a link to the main stage.
Staging a musical in a multi-purpose hall is always a challenge, and so it proved tonight. The balance between orchestra and cast was variable in the first Act but improved in the second with great solo instrumental work. Prima can be proud of the overall performance for the first night.
A word from Michael Forman: Thanks to everyone for making this show one of the highlights of my year. This team have been an absolute pleasure to work with.
–Michael (Dark Fiction. Author of SEETHINGS (the first book), free for a limited time)
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SEETHINGS II follows the return of the Storm Killer as a body on a secluded beach in Moreton Bay, igniting fear and denial. While police dismiss the link, the media doesn’t. Mitchell Felding forms a dangerous bond with a man who understands his darkest impulses. When Natasha enters his life, carrying love letters from her murdered mother, intimacy deepens, and truth closes in. Some futures are inherited. Some have escaped.
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Still hope to see Oliver again- just don’t remember the first time