Redgum Function Centre, Sydney.
July 22, 2024.
Holroyd Musical and Drama Society (HMDS) held its annual community theater show with brilliant performances Oliver! Based on the 1838 novel by Charles Dickens Oliver Twist, The story explores the plight of a young orphan in Victorian England, a society with sharply divided classes and one that was not kind or generous to the “parish apprentices” of the workhouse. With dreams of getting rich, Oliver ends up living on the streets of London, only to find himself mixed up with a ragtag group of child thieves led by Fagin, the leader of the adult children, teaching them the ways and crimes of street crime. Oliver ends up in his wealthy grandfather’s house after a series of events that have a happy ending that speaks to the many dark sides of the era, such as the lack of commonwealth, predatory crime lords taking advantage of the poor, domestic violence Many of the themes are still relevant today.
The cast is made up of a variety of talented people, and there’s a whole host of really cute kids who steal the show every time they’re on stage. The children’s ensemble was fun, cute, and added fun little details throughout many moments throughout the show. The lead role of Oliver (1 of 2) in the cast is played by Percy Chiu. Qiu’s beautiful high notes convey a wonderful sense of innocence and unpretentiousness. Clive Hobson’s Fagin makes an excellent plotting antagonist and Bailee van Bentum’s artful Dodger is an entertaining The choice to play women in traditionally male roles. Van Bentum plays this quirky character in her own unique way, with a perfect sense of accent and mannerisms. Felicity Amos as Nancy takes up the entire space every time she steps on stage with her incredible singing voice and innate ability to captivate an audience. Rachel Baker is a naturally energetic Bet, and Samantha Wills is a wonderful Widow Corney, bringing a sizzling energy to her role. Brilliant dramatic voice and raunchy style. The entire cast delivers some truly funny and heartwarming moments in their performances.
Among the costumes, many of the pieces are handmade by costume manager Jenna van Bentum, including period costumes with some lovely color and detail choices, each highlighting character and personality and well symbolizing era and class divisions.
The set design also has a sense of depth, using an originally small space to expand it to create a sense of layers, corners, and interiors and exteriors. The gorgeous period images on the canopy add to the sense of space. The lighting (designed by Matthew Lutz) also complements the scenes, mood and concepts depicted very well, adding a final touch to each scene.
From a choreography point of view, although the entire work is simple, the style is appropriate, the use of props and scenery is creative, and the overall use of the stage space is also good. It was chaotic at times, but choreographer Caitlin Dennis should be congratulated for her excellence in working with a large cast of mixed dance training and abilities. The team seemed to enjoy performing the dance, with each move adding to the narrative. The performance conveyed the actors’ good understanding and commitment to the story not only through the songs, but also through the choreography and sets.
Structurally, there is a lack of connection between scenes and there seems to be a focus on the number of songs/dances rather than telling the story as a complete narrative. Key moments in dialogue are often lost and appear to be treated as an afterthought between musical segments rather than an integral part of the whole, causing transitions to feel obvious. The message it conveys may assume that the audience knows or remembers the story and those closely involved in the creation of the work.
The musical direction (Natalie Davis-Pratt) was excellent, the accompaniment full of luster, and expertly maneuvered in moments where perhaps the faster speech moments were a bit clunky for the performers. No doubt these moments will level out as the run progresses, and live performance by a skilled orchestra is always a treat.
Overall, HDMS yields Oliver! is a fun show with a cute group of kids, some strong actors, and a nostalgic soundtrack that makes every number memorable. As an inclusive theater company, HDMS makes community theater a very special experience and a launching pad for many emerging talents.
Holoid Musical and Dramatic Society Oliver! The game will be held on July 7 at the Redgum Center in Wentworthville. For tickets and more information, visit www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1195149
By Linda Badger of Dance Informa.
