Oliver!

Synopsis

Now in its 2nd record-breaking year, Oliver is one of the most beloved British musicals, vividly bringing to life Dickens' timeless characters with its ever-popular story of Oliver,the boy who asked for more.

The musical contains some of the great villains of all time including Fagin and Bill Sykes and Oliver songs include Food glorious food, You Got to Pick a Pocket or Two, Who will buy this wonderful morning, I am reviewing the situation and Consider yourself at Home.

The Oliver musical London premiered in June 1960 and ran for 2,618 performances. The original cast featured Ron Moody, Georgina Brown and Barry Humphries. The show has enjoyed numerous London revivals since including in 1977 at the Albery Theatre (now the Noel Coward Theatre), starring Roy Hudd as Fagin, in 1983 at the Aldwych Theatre with Ron Moody returning as Fagin and in 1994 at the London Palladium with Jonathan Pryce as Fagin.

Rupert Goold (Best Director, 2008 Olivier Awards), has restaged Sam Mendes' acclaimed Oliver west end production, and along with Tony award winning director and choreographer Matthew Bourne, uses every inch of London's greatest musical stage with even more sensational sets by Anthony Ward.

This current Production at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane opened in January 2009 with Rowan Atkinson, Jodie Prenger and Burn Gorman. Notable replacement included Omid Djalili, Griff Rhys Jones, Russ Abbot and Kerry Ellis.

The production won three of our What’s on Stage awards for Best Revival of a Musical, Best Actor in a Musical and Best Supporting Actress in a Musical.

The show closes early in January so click below for some Oliver tickets before it’s too late!

Our Review:

7 September 2009

To say that Omid Djalili has made the part of Fagin his own is the grossest of understatements. I’d go so far as to say he’s the best Fagin I’ve seen in Lionel Bart’s Oliver!, either on stage or screen, and certainly far superior to his immediate predecessor and fellow comedian, Rowan Atkinson, who, like Djalili, made his musical debut in the part.

With Atkinson, we got “Mr Bean does Dickens”, and never more or less than might be expected; with Djalili, there’s no end of surprise and delight in a performance that could not be more different, either physically or tonally. Djalili’s larger-than-life Fagin is more than a little bit Falstaff: a rotund and robust rascal, full of heart, contradiction and, deep down, conscience, who throws himself between Bill and Nancy in his desperate plea for “no violence” and brings true depth to the admission that he’s “finding it hard to be really as black as they paint”.

In that one number, “Reviewing the Situation”...

Read more of the review

Latest User Review

Jackie, Devon - 23 April 2010:

Tim Laurenti was playing Fagin (Griff Rhys Jones on holiday) and he was very good. A very believable Fagin, enough menace and did not overplay the comedy. Kerry Ellis was excellent, her singing and acting superb. Sometimes it was difficult to understand the children's dialogue and the seats were far too cramped. However overall a thoroughly enjoyable evening out and the show is recommended....

Read more and add your own review

Related Whatsonstage.com Articles

Morrisey & Conley Lead National Tour of Oliver! Oliver! Takes to the Road, Tour News Imminent??? Musical Cast: Rhys Jones Oliver!, Matilda & Bells Oliver! Picking Pockets to Find New Fagin??? Photos: Moody Returns as Fagin for Oliver! 50th Oliver! Closes at Drury Lane 8 Jan, Moody Guests Photos: Russ Abbot Returns Again as Fagin Photos: Kerry Ellis Gives Oliver! New Oom-pah-pah Photos: Griff Rhys Jones' Opening Night as Fagin Kerry Ellis Succeeds Prenger as Nancy in Oliver! More»