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Oliver! by Christian Youth Theater 
The last musical to win a Best Picture Oscar prior to Chicago
was Oliver! – Lionel Bart’s musical version of Charles Dickens’ Oliver
Twist that has long been one of the most popular shows produced. Not only
does the show feature great moments of comedy and drama and a number of
unforgettable characters, it also has one of the best and most complete scores
ever that includes such hits as I’d Do Anything for You, Consider
Yourself at Home, Food Glorious Food, and Where is Love.
It’s also a favorite of Christian Youth Theater, this time being produced by CYT-North County Inland at the Escondido Center of the Arts. Unfortunately I couldn’t see it till its closing weekend, but what I saw was a creatively staged production filled with lots of clever comedy and a polished cast. In the title role was nine-year-old Tyler Ulrich who exuded a tender innocence as the good-hearted Oliver Twist and sang a sweetly melancholy Where is Love. Michael Sanchez was his confident and seasoned young pick pocket instructor – the Artful Dodger – who leads the ensemble in a rousing rendition of Consider Yourself. And teaching him was one of the big highlights of the evening – the old master himself going by the name Fagin. David Hott used his wide, hilariously expressive eyes and a delightfully devilish manner to create a remarkably comic Fagin, shining especially bright during his Reviewing the Situation that included some hysterical “eye work” as he impatiently bides his time during the long musical preludes between his stanzas.
Performed through March 6, 2005.
Rob Hopper ~ Cast ~
Oliver: Tyler Ulrich Noah: Dylan Baquero Fagin: David Hott Dr. Grimwig: Alicia Nyblade Dodger: Michael Sanchez Bet: Ashley Twomey Bill Sykes: Alex Saenz Mrs. Bedwin: Amy Morley Nancy: Kaitlynn Terrill Charley Bates: Kyle Powell Mr. Bumble: Brett Dunn Rose Seller: Rae O'Rourke Mrs. Corney: Amanda Morley Milk Maid: Karina Gillette Mr. Brownlow: Daris Smith Strawberry: Sarah Slaven Mr. Sowerberry: Daris Smith Knife Grinder: Dylan Baquero Mrs. Sowerberry: Natalia Jones Long Song Solo: Kaylee Ramsey Charlotte: Janessa Gillette Adult Ensemble: Dylan Baquero Kalei Barretto Katelynn Clements Lauren Darrow Jillian Dudley Janessa Gillette Karina Gillette Natalia Jones Anne-Marie McDaniel Amy Morley Amanda Morley Alicia Nyblade Rae O'Rourke Kaylee Ramsey Alex Saenz Caleb Segina Sarah Slaven Matt Slaven Daris Smith Ashley Twomey Jenna Wille Workhouse/Fagin's Gang: Heather Banks Arianna Bartolotta Kyle Filley Avery Foncerrada Jeremiah Gillespie Lirenza Gillette Erin McGeeney Sophie Meyer Emily Potashnick Jaclyn Powell Kyle Powell Brittany Saenz Michael Sanchez Amanda Seckendort Sandy Shyu Mary Slaven Erich Spurgin Tyler Ulrich Nicole Weise Isabelle Zapata Brittany Zapata Director: Joey Minnich Costumer: Carla Wille Sound Design: Ron Allen Lighting Design: Brylan Ranscht Musical Director: Nancy Casey Choreographer: KellyAnn Wallace |
Delivering the drama is the show’s other highlight featuring
a tremendous performance by Kaitlyn Terrill as the tragic Nancy –
Fagin’s former student embroiled in an abusive relationship with the evil Bill
Sykes, who finds herself risking all to help Oliver avoid a similarly sad fate.
Her poignant As Long as He Needs Me describing her devotion to Sykes and
her touching reprise of I’d Do Anything sung to Oliver to explain why
she’s risking her life to save him are movingly and beautifully performed.