Oliver!, Chichester Festival Theatre Review
Written by Rosie for Theatre and Tonic.
Since its original West End premiere in 1960, the Lionel Bart musical adaptation of “Oliver Twist” by Charles Dickens has seen many a production and revisions across the globe. The latest in a long history of the show, Oliver! at the Chichester Festival Theatre will be the fourth revival to take to the West End since its conception when it transfers to the Gielgud Theatre this winter, and this delightful, bustling production proves that it deserves its place in the capital city. Sir Matthew Bourne, multi award-winning choreographer, makes his directorial debut supported by a fantastic cast and crew who transport you to Dickensian London in a flurry of reimagined numbers and a transformative set designed by Lez Brotherson.
Oliver! tells the story of a young orphan boy who finds himself in the busy streets of London, having just run away from his life in the workhouse and the punishment he receives when he asks for more food than usual. When in the capital city he meets and is mentored by the young Artful Dodger and his paternal figure, Fagin, who convince him to join their gang of young pickpockets and make something of himself. After an unfortunate excursion on his first outing with the gang, the titular character finds his luck change when he is taken in by a man from high society. Fearful that his thievery will be revealed to the law by the boy, Fagin and his ex-protégé, the infamous Bill Sykes, plan to steal Oliver back and make sure he keeps quiet. It’s a tale of highs and lows, multifaceted characters and some of Britain’s most well-known theatre songs all rolled into one unforgettable tale that has stood the test of time.
Together, Bourne and Brotherson have crafted a version of Oliver! that feels like a breath of fresh air for a show that many may feel has been revived to excess. Making use of a brilliantly used revolve, Brotherson’s set pairs perfectly with Bourne’s direction and choreography and never feels clunky or without purpose. The ensemble scenes are often so vibrant that it feels as though you are watching a stage with one hundred performers. The scaffold-style set was perfectly versatile and one of my favourite sets that Chichester Festival Theatre have managed to create over the years of their productions. Often the stage in the main theatre feels hard to work around in its three-sided staging, not every production making the best use of the space they have. But Oliver! uses the vast stage perfectly and there are very few moments where the set feels unpurposefully empty. Mixing in the gorgeous lighting design by Paule Constable and Ben Jacobs, there are breathtakingly stark contrasts between the darkness of Victorian London and the unexpected warmth felt in places such as Fagin’s lair. Physically, this production is a masterfully staged reimagining of the show that looks and feels naturally effortless throughout.
In Cameron Mackintosh’s new revisions of the show we see a great shift in the humanity of characters previously seen as cartoonish caricatures. Well-known to be an eccentric and iconic villain in musical theatre history, Fagin (played by Simon Lipkin) becomes something quite new and special in this production; previous harsh stereotypes are removed and Lipkin is left to breathe new life into the character, allowing his humanity and vulnerability to shine through in quieter moments. He becomes sympathetic and real, less of a villain and more of someone you can see has been knocked down by the world around him. “Reviewing the Situation” is dealt a new meaning when stripping away the clichés and Lipkin gives a riveting, nuanced performance which perfectly balances the comedy with his character’s tribulations. Fagin feels redefined and fresh all thanks to Lipkin’s exquisite performance and Bourne’s direction. Playing Nancy, Shanay Holmes is gorgeously suited for the role, with an incredible voice and power behind her performance that left the audience in thunderous applause following her renditions of “As Long As He Needs Me”. Both she and Lipkin slot perfectly into scenes with the gang of boys, equally as playful and captivating to watch as the incredible chorus of young performers around them. It is a shame that scenes with Bill Sykes (played by Aaron Sidwell) felt lifeless and inconsequential. Moments of fear and desperation were lost due to a lack of presence Sykes had on stage as, supposedly, the most terrifying man on the streets of London.
Other performances from the cast, namely Oscar Conlon-Morrey as Mr Bumble, Katy Secombe as Widow Corney and Billy Jenkins as The Artful Dodger, were joyous in nature and brought the production to life in exciting and hilarious ways, making even lesser-known characters feel like stand-outs. The ensemble of children playing both the workhouse orphans and Fagin’s gang (at my show, this was Team Limehouse) were remarkable young performers that captivated the attention every second they were present. It is a shame that we see far less of them in act two, and it’s one of the main reasons that act one feels stronger. The delight at watching the children perform to such a high standard made act one feel as if it was near perfect, and it is a stark contrast to the darker feel of act two when we are swept away into the more adult nature of Oliver!’s story. Raphael Korniets (tonight’s Oliver Twist) slotted perfectly into the role of the young orphan boy, giving a lovely rendition of “Where Is Love?” in act one and an almost angelic solo in “Who Will Buy?” in act two. The Artful Dodger (Billy Jenkins) completes the gang with his charming yet still childish urchin mannerisms, delivering my favourite rendition of “I’d Do Anything” alongside Holmes’ Nancy that I have ever seen. The cast is a powerhouse of vibrant performances and it will take a few repeat watches to catch every little choreographed, individual action that Bourne and the cast have created in each scene. The stage feels alive like the streets of London and that is down to the incredible, dedicated performances under the direction of Bourne.
It feels like no surprise that this production of Oliver! was announced to transfer to the West End after its initial run in Chichester, with the long-standing relationship that CFT have with transferring their productions to the West End. Having now experienced the production in all of its glory, it is safe to say that it absolutely deserves its space in the capital city this upcoming winter season. Rapturous and energetic, CFT’s revival of Oliver! feels completely fresh in its retelling of both story and characters and is the perfect production for both adults and children. There is something in it for everyone, from the newer revisions from Mackintosh that leave Fagin as a much more relatable yet still funny character, to the wonderful ensemble and children who pour their heart into every note and piece of choreography. I have never seen Oliver! done with so much heart, and it filled me to the brim with excitement and joy that I have not felt for a production in a very long time. If you an make it down to Chichester Festival Theatre to see the show before the transfer, I highly recommend you do so. Otherwise, get ready to book your tickets for the run in London because it is one you do not want to miss.
☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
ACCESS NOTES:
The Festival Theatre is a fully accessible space with lift access. Accessible toilets have audio-visual assistance for those with visual impairments that may need descriptions of where objects are in the space. CFT’s access scheme is easy to navigate and they offer a wide range of accessibility options to patrons, including but not limited to “Buddies” for those who do not feel comfortable attending the theatre alone, touch tours before certain performances and specific seat descriptions for those who need larger seats or specific requirements. See Chichester Festival Theatre’s dedicated Access page for more information.
