Myles Collinson is young Mr. Twist with a surprising and clear voice that rises to the occasion in Where is Love. He is surrounded by all manner of sordid characters who have no love for him. Josh Herren is Mr. Bumble, the cold and ruthless ruler of the workhouse, who isn’t quite so cold and ruthless when flirting with the Widow Corney (Alice Cash). Both play good character actors, and are a hoot in their date scene I Shall Scream. Poor Oliver goes from them to the mortician family, with Robbie Friedman as a hunched and hoarse-voiced Mr. Sowerberry and Adriana Yedidsion as his nagging wife who has a definite thing for Mr. Bumble.

Oliver flees to London to seek his fortune, but soon finds himself in even worse company. The Artful Dodger is harmless enough, with Joshua Shtein as the fully confident Dodger with a great cockney accent (Monty Silverstone, the father of Alicia Silverstone, was their dialect coach!). But conniving old Fagin is just using him like he uses everyone, but doing it with excellent style and humor as Matt Maretz begins Reviewing the Situation, using his voice well and sometimes sounding reminiscent of the great Ron Moody from the film. Bill Sykes is the most dangerous villain, but even he isn’t too scary in this lighter version, with Kevin McRee as a bombastic Bill rather than being the quietly menacing figure usually portrayed.

Performed through October 29, 2006.

Rob Hopper
National Youth Theatre

Oliver -