Oliver!
Trowbridge Amateur Operatic Society
Civic Hall, Trowbridge, November 15-18

Original story by Charles Dickens, marvellous music by Lionel Bart and virtually every number a show-stopper - it's no wonder Oliver! remains one of Britain's best-loved and most-performed musicals. It certainly went down a treat with Wednesday's first-night audience for TAOS' production at the Civic Hall.

Director Phil Courage made sure the action sped along at a cracking pace, dispensing with some of the dialogue and letting the songs speak, as it were, for themselves. This had the dual benefit of glossing over the company's occasional weakness in the acting department and instead showcasing their considerable abilities both as solo performers and as a barnstorming ensemble.

TAOS has always been a fine ensemble company, smartly choreographed, with every member giving a well-defined performance. This was especially true of the younger members of the cast - the workhouse orphans and, later, Fagin's gang, managed to put across plenty of personality while remaining thoroughly committed to their chorus roles.

Among the principals, Luke Rees-Oliviere made a suitably appealing Oliver although, as ever, his role was overshadowed by that of the Artful Dodger, played with great comic timing by Josh Adcock.

TAOS regular Clive James gave us a definitive Fagin, while Leonie Harrison lit up the stage as Nancy, moving effortlessly from the music hall burlesque of Oom-Pah-Pah to the spine-tingling intensity of As Long As He Needs Me. Mike Kemp and Lorraine Smith made a splendid double act as Mr Bumble and Widow Corney, and Craig Fisher put in a very convincing cameo as the thuggish Noah Claypole. Add to that a lively orchestral backing, under the direction of Helen Bilkey, a truly impressive set and colourful costumes, and the result was a dramatic, sometimes moving, often hilarious show that sent us out into the street singing.

Please, sir, I want some more.

Joceline Bury