Oliver Twist

Synopsis

Classic story of crime, poverty, vice and a young innocent orphan in London. Some of the most celebrated villains in English literature (Artful Dodger, Bill Sykes, Fagin).

Our Review:

29 November 2005

As proven by the recent Roman Polanski film adaptation of Oliver Twist it is commonplace to offer an audience Charles Dickens' original text without adding anything new stylistically. Thankfully, the Library theatre is providing theatre-goers with something very special this festive season rather than a pedestrian retread.

This Victorian tale of poverty, vice and pick-pocketing involving a young orphan called Oliver is so familiar that you could deliver without really trying. As long as the classic lines remain and an adorable little boy is cast as the lead, who would complain? Directors Roger Haines and Liam Steele confound expectations by breaking the rules. They include all of the classic scenes but without simply copying what has gone before. Michael Pavelka's stunning book-strewn set contains nooks and crannies for cast members to climb in and out of like urchins. Richard Taylor's sardonic musical interludes feature black humour which helps drive the n...

Read more of the review

Latest User Review

No reviews yet

Click here to add your review