Need Some Mo’e Theatre in Your Life? See “Oliver!”
by Kim Comissaris
Have you ever wanted to see Professor Mike Yocum boss small children around, sing a song, or wear a fat suit? Then go see the play “Oliver!,” directed by Scott Michaels, now showing at the Wagon Wheel Theatre.
The talented cast comprised of as many children as adults, fun musical numbers, and great staging make “Oliver!” a great way to spend an afternoon with friends. As Rachel Joy Miner said, “There isn’t a bad seat in the house.”
Because the Wagon Wheel is a circular theatre, every seat gets to be within about 20 feet of the stage, and the actors are excellent performers who know how to work the unique staging arrangement.
Based on the novel by Charles Dickens, “Oliver!” is a musical production by Lionel Bart. The main character, Oliver Twist (played by Parker Irwin), is a poor orphan boy under the care of Mr. Bumble (Mike Yocum) with about 20 other boys. Poorly cared for by Mr. Bumble, the boys enter with their first number, “Food, Glorious Food.”
With the ever-famous words, “Please, sir, can I have some mo’e,” more dancing and singing ensues until the plot thickens with the sale of Oliver Twist into the service of an undertaker and his wife. However, Oliver runs away under their cruel treatment and is spotted by Dodger (Lucas Thomas), a young pickpocket who lives on the streets with other boys under the “care” of Fagin (Bob Miller), a complex character, who teaches them the tricks of the trade.
Throughout the tricks and foibles, young Oliver Twist is resilient even when the plot hits some of its darkest moments. With evil villains such as Sykes (Bret Frazier) and the complex Fagin who almost mends his ways, Oliver! is filled with excitement, laughs, as well as many tender moments.
Through many turns of events, Oliver receives the answer to his number “Where is Love?” in coming to the home of Mr. Brownlow. Of course, to know exactly how that turns out you’ll have to go see the play!
