Lionel Bart’s ‘Oliver!’ @ Artisan Center Theater
—Jan Farrington
In case you’ve forgotten over the years, here’s a list of just some of the songs from Lionel Bart’s 1960 musical Oliver!, starting a month-long run at Artisan Center Theater: “Consider Yourself (at Home)”… “Where is Love?”… “Oom Pah Pah”… “It’s a Fine Life”… “I’ll Do Anything (For You, Dear, Anything)”… “As Long as He Needs Me”…and many more.
This is a very British musical (it ranks right up there with My Fair Lady and Mary Poppins), and why not? It’s based on the 1830s novel by Charles Dickens, Oliver Twist, which was such a hit that people overseas (on the docks of New York, reportedly) waited for ships to come in from England with the latest installment of the story.
Artisan’s big, boisterous production, well-directed by Tron Sutton—with lively choreography from Hayden Beaty and music direction (plus crystal sound) by Thomas Bartke and Christina Major—features an energetic ensemble (in fact, there are two casts alternating performances) and a cluster of fine actor/singers in the leading roles.
At the matinee I attended, “our” Oliver was played by Trinity McCallum, whose sweet, true voice carried Oliver’s yearning songs “Where is Love?” and “Who Will Buy (This Wonderful Morning)?” Micah Perkins was The Artful Dodger, the street-wise older kid who “rescues” young Oliver from the streets. Daniel Sontag was a tall, dark, and very scary Bill Sikes. Vibrant Cheyenne Grace made a spectacular Nancy, Bill’s fierce but good-hearted girlfriend—and singer of some of the show’s choicest songs: “Fine Life,” “I’d Do Anything,” and “As Long As He Needs Me,” which is hard to hear in these #metoo days. (Nancy, leave him, now!) And Mark Haley charms us as the “bad ‘un” Fagin, a winking, twirling old gent who runs a crew of child pickpockets all over London. (At alternate performances, Oliver is Owen Carlton, Dodger is Jack Horton, Bill is Josh Duncan, Nancy is Jayden Banks, and Fagin is Bill Combs.)
Once upon a time (circa 1960-something) I knew the Oliver! cast album by heart—and it’s a delight to meet Lionel Bart’s distinctive songs again, so full of fun, life, and emotion. Still, this isn’t the easiest story to watch; after all, we’re meeting orphans, criminals, and con artists trying to survive in the violent underworld of old London. But it tugs at the heart in a good way, drawing in everybody from kids to their grandparents. Young Oliver is a poor orphan, on his own in a big world, needing food, and safety…and most of all, love. Who doesn’t understand that? Kudos to every performer—the various villains and good folk, the enthusiastic dancers, the Fagin crew, the street vendors (roses, milk, strawberries) with their sweet voices, and many more.
It’s a fine, fine, show.
WHEN: September 1-October 2, 2023
WHERE: 444 E. Pipeline Road, Hurst TX
WEB: artisanct.com
