OLIVER

OLIVER
Book, Music & Lyrics by Lionel Bart
Freely adapted from Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist
Reconceived by Matthew Bourne and Cameron Mackintosh
Chichester Festival Theatre – running until Sept 7^th 2024.

This newly conceived production of Lionel Bart’s classic musical is due to open at London’s Gielgud Theatre over the Christmas season. Appropriate timing, as this incarnation has all the hallmarks of pantomime. Gone has the dark, gritty, Dickensian musical drama in favour of a family-friendly, even interactive interpretation. Breaking the fourth wall is an admirable art, and Simon Lipkins’ Fagin succeeds in spades, yet sometimes at the expense of the drama.

It is clearly a very talented company but some of the casting and artistic choices leave a lot to be desired. Why is Artful Dodger and some of his cohorts played by young adults? Surely, the fun of Dodger is to see an early adolescent, swamped in adult clothes, trying to be a man. Meanwhile, Fagin’s off-the-cuff gags aimed at Bill Sikes do nothing for either character. Sikes is and should be terrifying; to have him the butt of endless jokes does not help. On the plus side, young Oliver is played in delightful naturalistic style, as is Philip Franks’ Mr Brownlow. Elsewhere, we are treated to melodrama, caricature, vaudeville, even alternative comedy. In short, the show might benefit from a more consistent performance style.

Lionel Bart’s score is full of glorious songs. Full of vitality, melody, and drama. The tempos here seem to suggest the conductor is in a hurry to get to the bar. Singers trying hard to get in the words and little room for interpretation. Nancy, with a powerhouse of a voice, just about manages to overcome the speed train tempos. Even surviving the constant distraction of scene changers wandering around behind her. Then again, only old-time fans of the show will grouse at all this. The audience on the night lapped it up, whooping and cheering throughout. Perhaps, enjoyment was slightly dulled by sitting on the side of the horseshoe auditorium. Most of the show seemed to be directed for proscenium arch. So, the Gielgud will be perfect.

I must say, since writing the above, I have read many 4 and 5 star reviews, which suggests many improvements have been made. Yet, I suspect the pantomime element remains. For all my reservations, if you can get a seat, I highly recommend seeing the show. The cast are brilliant, and it is one of the great bulletproof British Musicals ever. Go see for yourself!

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And so…..to the other side of a stolen coin…a low budget Spanish film made in 10 days.

THE COFFEE TABLE
La Mesita Del Comedor
Director: Caye Casas
Writers: Cristina Borobia, Caye Casas
Stars: David Pareja, Estefanía de los Santos, Josep Maria Riera. 

Winning countless and well-deserved awards on the festival circuit, The Coffee Table is an unexpected psychological horror like no other of recent times. Jesus and Maria do not have an easy life, but the birth of their child gives them new hope. Then, an argument about the purchase of a coffee table changes their future forever.

It turns out that the Swedish designed table was made in China, and like so many put-it- together-yourself items is missing the final screw. Symbolic of their relationship, perhaps. Then begins the search for stability.

While Maria is out shopping, Jesus experiences a life-changing shock, one which he cannot divulge to anyone. Not to Maria, his brother, and definitely not to the besotted daughter of their next door neighbour. Even when the coffee-table salesman arrives with the missing screw, Jesus remains excruciatingly withdrawn.

The shock Jesus suffers is something no viewer or critic should reveal, suffice to say it provides actor David Pareja with one hell of a challenge. One which he grasps with bloodied hands, giving a performance worthy of an Oscar. All the cast are exceptional, but Mr. Pareja is mesmerising. The film is full of dark humour, tenderness, titillation, and some genuinely mind-numbing moments.

There aren’t many films that make you forget the existence of subtitles, but this one does. It’s the horror in the mind of Jesus that prevails. He’s seen horrors. Horrors that you’ll see. The horror. El horror.

See it on Apple TV, Amazon Prime, or Sky – Now!

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Reviews by Kevin Short

02/08/2024

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