Description
This epic, lush, and exceptionally dark revival of 'Oliver' at Papermill Playhouse is not to be missed. Starting with a no-fault cast, David Lloyd Watson, a touching Oliver Twist, and sings "Where Is Love?" purely. Judy McLane is as coarse a gin-slugging Nancy as she is a feeling one, leading the low-down "Oom-Pah-Pah" and "It's a Fine Life," a good, loud concession to irony, and socking across the torchy heartache of "As Long as He Needs Me." Her shocking, on-stage death is also quite possibly one of the most graphic dispatchings ever witnessed on the Papermill stage! In service to the excellent ensemble of singers and to Lionel Bart's winning score, Jim Coleman gets a wonderful Broadway sound, brassy and jazzy, from a first-rate orchestra. Although the villainous Bill Sikes, a basher of women and children, doesn't allow the actor Christopher Innvar the effervescence and levity he imparted to the mean Captain Hook in "Peter Pan," Mr. Innvar had better watch out, or he'll be branded the Paper Mill's resident heel. Robert Creighton, is a veritable Harlequin, an infectious jack-in-the-box, as the Artful Dodger. Michael Allinson is the essence of a perfectly right honorable gentleman as Mr. Brownlow, Oliver's benefactor and mystery relative. Another venerable veteran, George S. Irving, is Fagin, who is described to order in the theater publicity release as "the lovable scoundrel," and Mr. Irving appears obliged to play Fagin, master teacher of thievery to the young ("You've <b>...</b> |
