Oliver! | Short Review
Tim Bano
Thursday, July 25, 2024
Cameron Mackintosh's brand new production of the iconic musical is currently playing at the Chichester Festival Theatre before transfering to the West End in December
You can’t help but expect something special: choreographer supremo Sir Matthew Bourne directing at Chichester Festival Theatre – a place that knows how to put on a musical – with a revival of maybe the most crowd-pleasing piece of all time, Lionel Bart’s Oliver!, reworked by Bourne and Sir Cameron Mackintosh.
But for all those ingredients, this wonderfully slick but slightly safe production only comes alive in a few big moments: a soul-baring rendition of 'As Long as He Needs Me' by Shanay Holmes as Nancy, a fascinating mercurial performance from Simon Lipkin as Fagin, and a 'Consider Yourself' which kickstarts the whole production and culminates in a huge song and dance spectacle – pure joy.
PRODUCTION CREDITS
Oliver! by Lionel Bart (music, lyrics and book), based on Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens
Chichester Festival Theatre, 24 July 2024
Starring Simon Lipkin, Shanay Holmes, Aaron Sidwell, Billy Jenkins, Philip Franks et al
Directed by Matthew Bourne
Oliver! is playing at the Chichester Festival Theatre until 7 September 2024 before transfering to the West End on 14 December – for more information and tickets, visit oliverthemusical.com
You can read our full review in the October issue of Musicals magazine out on 27 September – consider subscribing today!
