A fantastic production that takes advantage of everything that musical theatre has to offer. Oliver! is a piece of theatre that is entertaining for all ages but doesn't require you to look much deeper to find a more extensive message. The production I saw was the 2024 cast of the Theatre Royal's production of Oliver! It was packed full of the classic songs, incredible lighting, costumes and props.
I was eager to see this show because it's one of those shows that whether you like musical theatre or not, the songs are permanently imprinted on your brain. Every song is a classic and not a single one could be removed. Hearing the layering of "who will buy" in person is indescribable. Gaining a more developed view of Fagin as he is belting "reviewing the situation." Overall it was a joyous experience with the sorrow of Nancy and the fun comradery of "consider yourself."
Firstly, I have to talk about the arguably main character of Oliver! Fagin. One reason for this is because the original cover of the cast recording of Oliver! is Fagin's face, this would normally be the main characters face if anything. Another reason is that surely the main character is the one develops and changes the most throughout the show? Well not in Oliver! Fagin is the most developed in actions and personality. On top of this the main character who you would think the show is named after should carry the message of the production, right? Yet again, Oliver doesn't carry the shows essence and message but instead Fagin does this. He struggles between his morals as the show progresses but it is made very clear that Fagin covers up his moral struggles with money and greed. As that is what the wealthy members of Victorian England did to cover their sinful choices. This different perspective within the show makes the trickle down effect of the segregation of the class system and it's effect on crime really clear. It is fascinating to watch a criminal "finding it hard to be really as black as they paint" because throughout the show you see through the façade to the struggle underneath that adds a humanity to the fascinating concept that is Fagin as a character.
The casting of this production was fantastic because every actor commanded their presence differently really enhancing their characters and their relations to each other. Not to forget to mention the fantastic stage dog Alan who played Bullseye. As well as this the props and set were wonderfully versatile and all had more than one purpose. As well as being appropriately dirty. I found it interesting as the costumes as a collective went together but individually looked thrown together, really representing the desperation of the characters as the more clothes and wealthy they wanted to look the more disjointed their costumes looked as a whole. A really fascinating allegory for the characters personality.
Overall, I really enjoyed this show and if you ever have the opportunity to see it, definitely do so. Not only is it a classic but most importantly it has a bit of everything. It can be enjoyed by all ages, performed by many skill levels and can be watched at a surface level or looked at in more depth to discover the cautionary tale that is Oliver!
-Mike Hogan in BBC Oliver! 2007
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