Review: 'Oliver' at Goodspeed Musicals

Dedicated to Professor Ruth M. Sasso with all good wishes to get well soon

East Haddam, CT - Goodspeed Musicals continues their season with a production of Lionel Bart’s OLIVER! that is at the same time dark in tone and uplifting. Lionel Bart, who was a composer, lyricist and playwright whose career spanned more than four decades, wrote the book, music and lyrics for OLIVER! that opened in 1960 in London. Based upon the novel Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens, the gritty story of the life of an orphan in mid-19th century England is simplified and the character of Fagin becomes more of a comic character than a villian.

“...What is OLIVER about? It’s about many thing: a desire for family, community, class, oppression, facing adversity, change--but at the center of all these things is one little boy, who’s innocence and pure soul alters the lives of the many people he encounters.” - Director Rob Ruggiero

Rob Ruggiero, the winner of several Connecticut Critics Circle Awards for Best Direction, returns to Goodspeed for his eleventh season to direct OLIVER! In his director’s notes he confirms that his vision of the musical was influenced by the 1948 film and admits that the musical presents a unique set of challenges to direct. “We can’t ignore the dismal nature of Oliver’s pre-London escapades but we can celebrate his journey. Oliver’s odyssey through life’s perils and joy is what we find so appealing.” There is plenty of dismalness in this story but it is also a story of perseverance that can inspire the youngest members of the audience.

Rest assured that in this production the darkness is done extremely well, with moody lighting designed by John Lasiter and a stark two-level set designed by Michael Schweikardt. Excellent period costumes by Alejo Vietti and wigs and hair by Mark Adam Rampmeyer set the tone nicely as well. Robert Davis did outstanding work as dialect coach and the score when conducted by Music Director Michael O’Flaherty has never sounded better.

“I’m reviewing the situation
Can a fellow be a villain all his life?” - Fagin in OLIVER!

Highlights for me were the maypole-like ribbons and the staging of “Who Will Buy?” and the onstage violin player who followed Fagin around at times. The choreography of James Gray was impressive throughout, with “Consider Yourself” and “Oom-Pah-Pah” true to form.

The wonderful cast is led by Elijah Rayman in the title role; the young actor has been treading the boards since the age of five. Richard R. Henry (1776 at CT Rep at UConn) stepped out of the ensemble to play the Beadle of the workhouse Mr. Bumble with a wonderful booming singing voice and big stage presence. Joy Hermalyn (Sound of Music Live! NBC) was a delightful Widow Corney, the mistress of the workhouse. Jamie LaVerdiere was great as the soused undertaker Mr. Sowerberry as well as Dr. Grimwig in his Goodspeed debut.

Karen Murphy (who was wonderful in the first national tour of FINDING NEVERLAND “16 months on the road. Lived to tell about it.”) took on two roles, first the wife of the undertaker and then the maternal housekeeper to Mr. Brownlow, Mrs. Bedwin. She was sublime as both. Miranda Gelch played Charlotte the maidservant and Bet in her Goodspeed debut.

Andrew Mayer (NATASHA, PIERRE & THE GREAT COMET OF 1812) was mean to Oliver in the role of Noah Claypole, the apprentice to the undertaker. Fifteen year old Equity member Gavin Schwartz was very strong in the role of Fagin’s brightest pupil The Artful Dodger in his Goodspeed debut. Owen Tabaka did well as Charley Bates. Donald Corren, who originated the role of Cosme McMoon in SOUVENIR on Broadway, was excellent in the role of Fagin.

Brandon Andrus (ANNIE GET YOUR GUN at Goodspeed) was almost overpowering in the role of the evil Bill Sykes, a villain in his prime. EJ Zimmerman (AVENUE Q at Playhouse on Park, as well as its national tour) gave a masterful performance as the battered woman Nancy, a graduate of Fagin’s “academy” of pickpocketing. As difficult as it is to understand the motivation of this character, Ms. Zimmerman’s performance of “As Long As He Needs Me” was heartbreaking.

Veteran Equity actor James Young was a perfect gentleman as Mr. Brownlow and Shannon Lee Jones was Old Sally, a pauper, in her Goodspeed debut. Jordana Grolnick (CHASING RAINBOWS at Goodspeed,) Megan Loomis, Russell Rinker (AMAZING GRACE tour,) and Alex Stewart (OKLAHOMA! at Goodspeed) rounded out the ensemble.

The talented Kids Company, a subset of whom performed on press night, include Emmarose Arelt, Gordon Beck, Owen Bryan, Alexa Calegari, Ava Cannan, Logan Erwin, Avital Goldberg-Curran, Lauren Greco, Riley Kuever, Ava Loughlin, Meghan Pratt and Colin Soto. Shout out to Oliver understudy Brendan Reilly Harris (THE WILL ROGERS FOLLIES at Goodspeed, Boy Scrooge at Hartford Stage) the older brother of MaddieKay who is playing an impressive Annie with Landmark Community Theatre this summer.

Coming up next at Goodspeed will be THE DROWSY CHAPERONE, a musical within a comedy that runs Sept. 21 through Nov. 25. CYRANO a new musical opens at The Terris Theatre on Aug. 3 with Peter Dinklage as Cyrano and Haley Bennett as Roxanne.

Pictured above: Gather the gang and head to The Goodspeed to see OLIVER! now playing through September 8th.

Nancy Sasso Janis Photo by J. Timothy Quirk

Nancy Sasso Janis has been writing theatre reviews since 2012 as a way to support local theatre venues. She posts reviews of well over 100 productions each year. In 2016, she became a member of the Connecticut Critics Circle. She continues to contribute theatre news, previews, and audition notices to local Patch sites. Reviews of all levels of theatrical productions are posted on Naugatuck Patch and the Patch sites closest to the venue. Follow the reviewer on her Facebook pages Nancy Sasso Janis: Theatre Reviewer and on Twitter @nancysjanis417