As the titular character sang “Where is Love,” the audience felt they found it inside Oliver!, Massapequa High School’s latest musical production/ Based on the 1838 Charles Dickens novel, Oliver Twist and adapted by Lionel Bart, Oliver! is a tale of redemption, loss, and love within the confines of industrialized English society.
A story of an orphaned boy who is lured unknowingly into criminal activity after escaping his workhouse, the MHS production of Oliver! came to life on March 7 and 8 through a myriad of fantastic sets, costumes, characters, and crisp English accents. The musical was directed by Mr. Kevin Harrington.
In order to create the young and naïve image of Oliver Twist, Birch Lane sixth grader James Kelly was cast as the title role. The wonderful acting and singing ability of the cast bridged across various grade levels.
Taking on this production was no easy task, as the lighthearted songs and subtle humor had to be balanced with the darker themes of the play, such as domestic abuse and poverty. The actors carried these dark themes with awe-inspiring precision and skill.
Although there were some mishaps, including Oliver’s fall during the first act when he was being carried over the shoulder, the cast did an excellent job portraying the classic musical. The ensemble added historical accuracy the production by portraying the “Haves” and the “Have Nots” of nineteenth century England.
Nancy, played by senior Rebecca Martin, took on the difficult role of representing domestic abuse. Throughout the play, she tolerates pain and turmoil at the hands of her boyfriend, Bill Sikes, portrayed by senior Anthony Romano, simply because she loves him. This relationship played an important role not only in continuing the plot, but also in providing awareness to the audience, as domestic abuse is still a major modern day issue.
One standout actor was junior Brian Bernhard, who played Fagin. Although Fagin serves as a comical character in the musical, Dickens wrote him as a warning to mankind. Selfish, devious, and malicious, Fagin is the symbol of pure evil. Still, audience members can see that a large part of Fagin’s flaws rest in the fact that he is insecure and misunderstood.
“He’s a lying, cheating thief who is made even more despicable by spreading his ‘wisdom’ to children, yet he knows what he’s doing is wrong,” Bernhard said. “He’s the kind of guy you love to hate, but there are times where you just can’t help to feel bad for him.”
Throughout the performance, there were large-scale musical numbers that had their own unique sounds and strong vocals. Vocal standouts included the Widow Corney, played by sophomore Hannah Bentivegna, Bet, who was portrayed by freshman Nicole Pulsinelli, and the “Artful Dodger,” played by junior Charlie McGrath.
“The music in Oliver was incredible. The actors were able to sing their heart out while sticking to their characters’ quirks and accents,” senior Megan Byrne said.
Massapequa High School’s production of Oliver! was an excellent rendition of the classic musical and successfully showcased the amazing talent that MHS has to offer.