REVIEW | Oliver Twist, Albany Theatre
Written by Hollie
Disclaimer: gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review.
Please be aware that this is the play version of Oliver Twist and not the musical.
This year’s festive production at the Albany Theatre in Coventry is Oliver Twist. You are greeted on arrival with prosecco and mince pies which get you into the festive mood as soon as you arrive. The theatre itself is stunning and is the perfect setting for an adaptation of Charles Dickens’ Victorian novel.
As Oliver Twist is one of my favourites, I was looking forward to seeing how the classic had been adapted for this local theatre.
As the audience of families and couples took their seats, you were transported back to the 1800s and the diverse cast of actors set the scene as the narrators of the tale.
Oliver Twist, is an orphan who has grown up in an industrial workhouse. He escapes to London but very quickly meets a gang of pickpockets who take him under their wing and show him how money can be made from their crimes. The gang is led by criminal Fagin, but one day when Oliver is out with some of the other boys, he realises what the gang is up to and accidentally gets pursued by the police. The story continues as Oliver is passed from pillar to post and is welcomed into the criminal underground of Victorian London.
This is Oliver Twist with a twist, and therefore the main players are reflecting on Oliver Twist’s life and what happens to him in Victorian London.
As narrators, I thought the play was slow to start but as the characters transformed into the classic characters of Fagin, Nancy and the Artful Dodger, I felt that the actors were much more natural in those roles.
It was a shame to only have adults playing the child characters but it did give a unique twist to the tale. The actors that played Fagin and the Artful Dodger were superb and played convincing villains. The cast warmed into their roles throughout the first act and the jokes improved as the show went on.
As this is a play and not a musical it was noticeable that the classic songs such as ‘Reviewing the Situation’ and ‘Consider Yourself’ were not present but they were mentioned throughout the show. In places, the cast did sing other songs such as ‘Bleak Midwinter’ and they are all very talented singers! It would have been nice to see more musical numbers throughout the production.
In reviewing this situation, I believe that the cast has a lot of potential which could be seen in places. I found this adaptation a bit strange to follow at times and the fact that Oliver was played by an adult didn’t sit quite right with me. I look forward to seeing what the cast produce next year and wish them all the best for this Christmas production.
Oliver Twist continues to play at The Albany Theatre in Coventry until Sunday 31st December 2023.
☆ ☆.5
