Saskatoon Summer Players’ latest production of Lionel Bart’s musical Oliver! is well-choreographed, well-staged and confronts its tougher themes head-on.
Directed by Kristie Elliott, Oliver! is an adaptation of Charles Dickens’ novel Oliver Twist, which follows the eponymous character (Josephine Lapointe), a malnourished orphan raised in an 1800s London workhouse. After Oliver is sold to an undertaker for labour, he runs away and is taken in by Fagin (Jordie Hughton), a fence who offers children shelter and food in exchange for pickpocketing for him.
When Oliver’s first attempt to steal goes wrong, he meets a rich benefactor, Brownlow (Brent Chappell) with a much-hinted at connection to him, but finds himself in danger when the notorious violent thief Bill Sykes (Austin Lysager) becomes convinced the child will give the crime ring away.
It features familiar show-stoppers, such as “Consider Yourself,” “I’d Do Anything,” and “Where Is Love?,” and is brought to life by its spirited, large ensemble cast, and a live orchestra. The show has some double-cast characters that perform in different showings, including its lead, Oliver.
Lapointe is expressive and endears in her portrayal of Oliver, who pushes back against bullies and stays optimistic through adversity. Nilah ‘Ven’ Santos Ong is a stand-out as the artful Dodger, with scene-stealing moments.
Paulina Salisbury’s powerful voice and haunting portrayal of Nancy lingers long after the curtains fall. Nancy, who it is heavily implied was forced into sex work when she was young, is physically and emotionally abused by Sykes, and is one of the few characters who help Oliver.
The horrors of domestic violence and femicide don’t happen off-stage but are shown for the audience to bear witness to. With every blow of Sykes’ final attack on Nancy, red lighting floods the stage.
Dickens’ near 200-year-old novel’s themes are as pressing today as they were during the Industrial Revolution, as interpersonal violence and child poverty continue to be prevalent.
While Oliver!’s hopeful message endures, the story concludes with a warning about negative cycles repeating.
The choreographed sequences and detailed sets filled the stage, and the creative live set changes kept the second-act action flowing. The ensembles’ overall strong vocal performances deserve kudos.
Unfortunately, audio problems such as feedback and dropped sound from performers’ mics at different points Saturday night could be distracting.
Filled with many rousing numbers, Saskatoon Summer Players’ production of Oliver! is worth the watch at the Remai Arts Centre.
Oliver! runs from to June 28 at the Remai Arts Centre. Tickets can be found online at saskatoonsummerplayers.ca.
