Well, music lovers, it’s time for the first of the huge local shows on offer in the Cowichan Valley in 2017.
The Cowichan Musical Society is stepping up with Lionel Bart’s Oliver!, an expressive retelling of Charles Dickens’ classic Oliver Twist, about a boy who is suddenly forced to survive on the mean streets of Victorian London.
Dominic Fagan plays Oliver in this production, and he’ll be joined onstage by a cast of more than 60 performers of all ages.
Included in that list are Grant Mellemstrand as Fagin, Reuben Broadway as the Artful Dodger, Sarah Lane as Nancy, Julia Lalonde as Widow Corney, Austin Frykas as Bill Sykes, Ted Eden as Mr. Bumble, Jennifer Lally as Mrs. Sowerby, and Jim Cleough as Mr. Sowerby.
“It’s an amazing cast. This is the Society’s 36th year and it’s one of the biggest casts ever,” Society president Irwin Killam said.
Because of the early show dates this year, which were dictated by a busy schedule at the Cowichan Performing Arts Centre, rehearsals for the big musical started earlier than usual and at the moment are progressing at a three-day-a-week pace.
The size of the cast should be a real draw, because no matter who you are you are likely to spot someone you know in the show singing or dancing or both, according to Killam.
The singing will be backed by a 12-piece orchestra in the pit, too, and Oliver is a tuneful show so it’s likely you’ll be humming when you leave.
There’s a highly experienced trio in charge of organizing the action onstage.
Directing the drama for this show is Gregg Perry, while Peter Yelland is handling the music direction. Joyce Scott is the choreographer.
Georgie Weeks-Heyd has been in charge of designing the costumes and she and what Killam calls “her lovely seamstresses” have been running hard to costume this big cast.
“They’re doing a really great job,” Killam said, adding the set for this production should be quite unique; half of it has been built specifically for this show and half provided from the Shawnigan Lake School production of a few years ago.
Oliver! the musical has been around since 1960 and is a popular project for schools and community theatre groups because of the number of children involved, its people-pleasing music, and its dramatic story, which offers a variety of opportunities for many actors to shine.
Three performances have been scheduled: Friday, Jan. 20 at 7:30 p.m., again on Saturday, Jan. 21 at 7:30 p.m. and a matinée on Sunday, Jan. 22 at 2 p.m.
Tickets are $20 each in rows A, B, O, and P, and $35 each in all other rows. A few $5 eyeGO seats are available for card-carrying students who pick them up in person and pay in cash.
Buy tickets online at cowichanpac.ca or call the Cowichan Ticket Centre at 250-748-7529 to reserve.
