Interludes

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Encores! mounts a decidedly grim, well-sung revival of Lionel Bart’s OLIVER! at New York City Center

• By drediman
• May 8, 2023
• No Comments

Last night at New York City Center, I attended Encores! latest entry in its 2023 season, an enticingly cast revival of Lionel Bart’s beloved 1960 musical Oliver! (the 1968 film adaptation won six Academy Awards, including Best Picture, cementing the work’s place in musical theater history). Based on Charles Dickens’ novel Oliver Twist, the musical tells the story of an unfortunate but loveable orphan — the titular Oliver — and his labyrinthine adventures on the grimy streets of Victorian London.

As an imminently recognizable piece of theater, the musical would seem an odd choice for the Encores! platform (I felt the same way about last year’s fantastic Encores! revival of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s Into the Woods). Setting that thought aside, there’s much to appreciate about Lear deBessonet’s sturdy, beautifully sung, and decidedly grim production — think if the musical were dropped into the Les Miz universe, and you’ll get the gist. Few directors have the ability to direct traffic with the same kind of authority and efficiency as deBessonet does, which is in full evidence in this large scale, briskly staged production. There’s also an appealing simplicity to her staging that directs the focus squarely onto Bart’s irrepressibly tuneful score (sublimely conducted onstage by Mary-Mitchell Campbell in its fully orchestrated glory), even if it strips the musical of some narrative texture. 

As for the performances, I found them ranging from sufficient to sensational. Coming off best in the title role was young Benjamin Pajak, whose angelic singing and authentic acting indisputably carried the production (his soaring, practically perfect rendition of “Where Is Love?” genuinely stopped the show). Valiantly stepping in for an indisposed Raúl Esparza in the central role of Fagin at the performance I attended was Tony nominee Gavin Lee, whose detailed, highly physical portrayal was surprisingly polished given the situation. In the role of Nancy, Lilli Cooper sang gloriously and commanded the stage with newfound star power. Rounding out the cast were Tam Mutu as an excessively menacing Bill Sikes and the comic pairing of Brad Oscar and Mary Testa, who were both predictably broad as Mr. Bumble and Widow Corney, respectively.

RECOMMENDED

OLIVER!
Off-Broadway, Musical
New York City Center
2 hours, 30 minutes (with one intermission)
Through May 14