The show Oliver! is based on the book Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens. It has been a classic since its inception, and the stage version continues the tradition of excellence.
My kids, who have read the book, were eager to see the show. However, if your children aren't familiar with the story, a little synopsis before the show would be helpful. Along with following the plot, it also provides an opportunity to discuss some of the darker points of the play.
Orphanages, child labor, runaways and pick pockets are all topics that come up. Despite some of the dire circumstances and sketchy characters, Oliver! is really a story about hope and love. Though it may contain some sad and even scary bits, the happy ending is what comes through the loudest. Parents take note: Children younger than 4, including babes in arms, are not admitted to the show.
Kids always love watching other kids on stage, and Oliver! provides ample opportunities. The massive children's ensemble includes 45 youngsters (not all of whom appear in every performance). The lead role of Oliver is performed alternately by Jack Fleischmann and Mark Jeffrey James Weber. With voices bigger than their statures would indicate, these kids are perfectly at home on stage. For me, the Artful Dodger, played by Grayson Smith, was a real treat. His stage presence belies his mere 12 years of age. He is definitely going to be one to watch.
The sets provide a venue for some of the most memorable moments of the show. The choreography of "Food, Glorious Food" uses the sets to the fullest with orphans dancing around poles, atop scaffolding and across the dining tables. The sets also allow for elaborate chase scenes as Oliver attempts to escape from various pursuers. It was interesting to watch how the same scaffolding transformed so easily from one location to the next. Kudos to scenic and lighting designer Tom Sturge for taking us to so many locations around London without ever leaving our seats.
If there is a downside to the show, it is one that is inherited from the book and the values of the 19th century. The portrayal of women is always one of subservience. When Mr. Bumble is accused of selling Oliver to the undertaker, he blames his wife. The constable responds that since he is the head of the house, he is still responsible for his wife's actions since she can't make decisions on her own. I was very proud of my 9-year-old daughter for noticing that. While it is easy to dismiss as something of a past era, I also want to make sure that such attitudes are red flags for both of my children.
Another great opportunity for discussion revolves around the character of Nancy. Although Oliver is seen as the central character of the show, Nancy is the one who truly undergoes a metamorphosis. In early scenes, she sings of her contentment with her lot and choices in life, but later the reprise of the song shows that she has begun to question if it is truly the life she wants. She is able to make the hard choice to do what is right for Oliver, rectifying her earlier involvement in returning him to Mr. Hagin and the other street urchins.
Mark Kitaoka Nancy (Merideth Kaye Clark) and company. |
However, she is never quite able to make the decision to cut her own ties and do what is right for herself. While her rendition of "As Long As He Needs Me" is easily the highlight of the show (she has some major pipes, folks), it is also the saddest for me. I want a better life for her character, but that is how Dickens works. It is the contrast of her life and the future she wants for Oliver that provides the moral backbone of the whole show.
While our experience with the show may seem a little heavy, many children will enjoy the show for the dancing and singing and will feel taken away to someplace magical with the gorgeous costumes and lilting British accents. The happy ending leaves the audience filled with the holiday spirit and the desire to hold our dear ones a little tighter. So, while there may be some heavy topics nestled within the story, it is undoubtedly a story of hope and love that is meant to be experienced together with people you love.
IF YOU GO
Where: The 5th Avenue Theatre, 1308 5th Ave., Seattle.
When: Now through Dec. 31 with show times at 1:30, 7, 7:30 and 8 p.m. depending on the date.
Cost: Prices range from $40.50-$148.50.
Contact: 206-625-1900 or www.5thavenue.org.
Kelly Rogers Flynt is a freelance writer based out of Lake Forest Park.
