Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
ALL kudos and cheers to the talented actors and accomplished musicians of Bahrain who staged Lionel Bart's well loved musical Oliver! over the weekend at the British Club in Adliya, writes ANASUYA_KESAVAN.
The show was put together by MASK (Music for Stage and Kids) which offers a musical training programme, incorporating the three major disciplines of voice, acting and dance.
Its debut stage production of the much-loved musical evoked melancholy, joy, fear and excitement, alongside some excellent singing and acting by the 36 young and senior actors who had spent several weeks rehearsing to bring to life Charles Dickens' classic tale.
The audience was transported to Dickensian London with authentic costumes, stage sets and style of speech. The top hats, tail coats, Victorian maids with mop caps and, of course, Mr Bumble's beadle hat and blue overcoat, deserves praise.
The children - workhouse boys and Fagin's gang, the youngest of whom was aged eight, stole everyone's heart with their enthusiasm and energy and their prowess for cleverly depicting what life was like in the mean and dark streets of old London town.
Annabel Browne as Oliver Twist was at her innocent best and successfully evoked gloom and unhappiness in the song 'Where is Love'.
Scarlet Robinson, who played the role of the Artful Dodger, showed an abundance of talent and potential. She was delightful in many a scene especially in the song sequence Consider Yourself, which was enacted and sung together with both junior and senior chorus and helped lighten the mood of a dark story to a considerable extent. Other favourites included Pick a Pocket or Two and Food Glorious Food.
Senior actors, particularly Tim Doyne as Fagin, Gail Matthews as Nancy and Andrew Jackson were also superb. The show was made memorable with the excellent orchestra conducted by music director Alistair Auld.
All in all, an excellent debut that has left Bahrain's culture-loving audiences asking for more and hopefully in spaces with better acoustics.
