Oak Park High School students perform top-notch "Oliver," bringing Dickens’ colorful characters to life

CHUCK ROGERS/The Acorn STUDENT THESPIANS-"Oliver" cast members are shown clockwise from top left.Rebecca Lees as "Bet," Jeff Newman as "Green Fagin," Allie Rhodes as "Nancy," Lauren Suffer as "Oliver" and Chase Ferrell as "Artful Dodger," performed the musical last week at the Scherr Theater in Thousand Oaks.

By Sharon Makokian

Acorn Staff Writer

Performing arts students from Oak Park High School said they "considered themselves at home" on stage at the Scherr Forum Theatre at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza last week, where they gave a top-notch production of the classic musical "Oliver."

Lionel Bart wrote the musical in 1960 based on Charles Dickens’ 1838 novel, "Oliver Twist." The show took London by storm, and has been gracing stages worldwide ever since with such memorable songs as "Food, Glorious Food," "Consider Yourself" and "I’d do Anything." The movie version won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1968.

The Oak Park performers followed the tradition with excellent acting, dancing, singing, sets and costumes.

Lauren Soffer, coiffed in a short, boy’s cut wig, did a good job as the orphaned waif, Oliver Twist. (Many girls played boys’ parts in this production). The petite Soffer gave a believable performance as the little boy, with excellent facial expressions and movements.

Although the cast topped 48, there were really only six leading parts, all of which were excellently done. The entire cast was wonderful in town scenes featuring cohesive dance movements and vocal harmony.

One of the best performances came from Allie Rhodes (daughter of drama teacher, music director and producer, Rick Rhodes) as Nancy. She was graceful and expressive, especially during her heartfelt and well-sung version of "As Long as He Needs Me."

Two other notable performers, who worked well together and apart, were Jeff Newman, as Fagin, and Chase Ferrell as the charming Artful Dodger. Both played sympathetic thieves who won the audience’s hearts, despite their wrongdoings.

Although Dickens’ original portrayal of Fagin was as a mean, Shylock-esque character, the musical toned him down to show a thoughtful man who cared for the young boys that stole for him. His ambivalence about stealing and his deep-down conscience came through in Newman’s delightful performance of "Reviewing the Situation," in which he went back and forth about the pros and cons of his lifestyle and his desire to be normal.

Adam Bushore was excellent as the truly heartless Bill Sykes, as were Matt Fondiler as Mr. Bumble (who lived up to his name) and Shelby Schulman as his paramour, Mrs. Corney.

One thing that set the show apart from most high school productions was the way the students learned and maintained British dialects. Kudos to dialect coach Lane Davies, as well as to director Allan Hunt and producer and music director Rick Rhodes.

The 386-seat theater was filled to capacity, with the show selling well for its three-night run. Rhodes said he was thrilled with the opening-night performance.

"It is wonderful. I’m so pleased. Two months of hard work have paid off," he said.

Theatergoers were equally impressed.

"The accents were excellent. That’s very hard to do… the choreography also was wonderful," said Agoura musician and teacher Rhonda Yancey, praising Davies and choreographer Ruth Cordell.

OPHS librarian Mae Greenwald was very impressed with the "extraordinary" performance.

"I saw it start about five weeks ago, then the momentum grew," she said, highlighting the fact that the rehearsals came at a busy time of the year, when the students also had STAR testing, Advancement Placement exams, and now, finals.

Ashley Palmieri, a senior, liked the play so much; she planned to return the next night.

"Oliver" is the last of three OPHS plays this year under the newly instituted Academy of Performing Arts, in which professionals in the field are brought in to teach the students.