OLIVER THE MUSICAL BY CCMT A DELIGHFUL EVENING

(l to r) Ian Shoemaker as Oliver, Patrick Michael Dukeman as Fagin and Grant Lowenstein as The Arfurl Dodger in CCMT's production of Oliver!

OLIVER! The Musical. Music and lyrics by Lionel Bart is based on the novel Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens. Contra Costa Musical Theatre, Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek, 925-943-7469 or www.lesherArtscenter.org.

Through November 7, 2009

OLIVER! THE MUSICAL BY CCMT A DELIGHFUL EVENING

It’s almost 50 years since the original Oliver! The Musical debuted with rave reviews in London and was equally successful in its 1963 Broadway run. Since that time, it has made the rounds of community theaters throughout the country and now Contra Costa Musical Theatre (CCMT) has mounted a marvelous, spirited production with, count them, a 50-member cast and a 15-piece orchestra. The famed Pacific Boychoir Academy provides twenty-eight boys, 14 of whom play on alternate nights.

The story of Charles Dickens’s poor orphan boy Oliver born into a London workhouse has seen many reincarnations for stage, movies and television. The opening pages where young Oliver asks for more gruel to supplement his daily ration of only one bowl starts the ball rolling on this picaresque tale. After being abused by Mr. Bumble and Widow Corney, they sell him to undertaker Mr. Sowerberry who continues the abuse. Oliver runs away to London, meets up with the Artful Dodger who enlists him into Fagin’s stable of youthful street waifs who “earn their keep” as pickpockets. Oliver on his first venture to “pick a pocket or two” is caught, befriended by kindly Mr. Brownlow and ends up in a decent home. Alas Fagin and mean Bill Sykes want him back before he spills the beans about their unlawfulness. Nancy, Bill Sykes’ live-in girl friend, is sent to do the dastardly deed. Oliver is dragged back into the den of chaos and bad things happen, especially to Nancy, before almost all is set right.

Lionel Bart’s musical version keeps the plot intact and adds fabulous songs that will be repeating in your mind long after you have left the theater. The workhouse boys, who later double as Fagin’s gang, are great as they sing and stomp about with “Food, Glorious Food” before Mr. Brumble (Danny Cozart) and widow Corney (Melinda Meeng) severely chastise the boy before going into a seduction scene as she protests “I Shall Scream.” Cozart and Meeng are great as they play it as a laugh inducing vaudeville skit.

Young Ian Shoemaker as Oliver displays his singing and acting ability with the plaintive “Where is Love?” When he makes his escape to London Town, he is induced by the charismatic rapscallion, the Artful Dodger (Grant Lowenstein) to “Consider Yourself” one of us. Lowenstein’s stage presence and charisma are sure to lead him into frequent gigs in the Bay Area.

Then we meet red-bearded Fagin (Patrick Michael Dukeman) and his ruffians who perform a tricky song and dance with “Pick a Pocket or Two” as they teach the neophyte Oliver the ropes. Dukeman’s Fagin is priceless and he alone is worth the price of admission. But – he has to share the praise with his youthful ragamuffins when they join him for the ensemble numbers “It’s a Fine Life”, “I’d Do Anything For You” and “Be Back Soon.”

Nancy (poorly miscast Jennifer Stark) leads the ensemble to start the second act with the rousing “Oom-Pah-Pah” before she delivers the memorable song, “As Long As He Needs Me.” The most beautiful moments of the evening belong to Grace Chaffey, Matthew Gracy, Michlee Luebke and Adria Swan as a quartet singing “Who Will Buy?” (my red, red roses) as they are joined by Ian Shoemaker and the ensemble. You will might possibly empathize with Fagin (but I doubt it) as he vacillates between retiring from “the business” to take-up a somewhat conventional life with “Reviewing the Situation.”

CCMT has done it again with this audience pleasing, expertly directed and adroitly staged production of Oliver! Running time 2hours and 40 minutes with intermission.

Kedar K. Adour, MD

Courtesy of www.theatreworldinternetmagazine.com