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Reviewing the Situation: Omid in Oliver!
Posted by Ben on Monday 14th September 2009 at 5:38PM
His BBC One show regularly featured song and dance set-pieces and his stand-up routines always include ethnic eccentricity, mock accents and cutting humour. He is no stranger to the stage, starting out in experimental theatre and performing successfully at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival over many years.
Omid Djalili has played the role of Fagin for two months since taking over from Rowan Atkinson in Oliver! at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, in July. Like Atkinson, Djalili comes into the show more familiar for his TV and Film work than his ability to carry a musical song and dance number. Also, like Atkinson, Djalili is a bold performer who is willing to see how far he can push his talents.
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Abundant Energy
Djalili is certainly a playful Fagin. He brings abundant energy to the dishevelled, limping gang master. His lair remains a fantastic piece of set design and lighting, an underground den of juvenile thieves ready to 'pick a pocket or two'. Some of the jokes, such as untrustworthy banks and politician’s expenses, are beginning to feel a little dated. It would have been nice to have seen the new Fagin given something more topical to deliver.
Alternate Nancy, Tamsin Carroll, was excellent. She commanded the stage and her vocals soared above the company. Bill Sikes exuded menace whenever he appeared and Julius D’Silva and Wendy Ferguson, as Mr Bumble and Widow Corney respectively, were solid in support. Considerable Production
Much has been made of the set design and sheer number of backstage personnel involved in the production. The scene changes were slick, the manual and automatic flying indistinguishable, and the hydraulic centre stage often in spectacular use.
The choreography, particularly in the opening number ‘Food Glorious Food’, is brilliantly executed by the adolescent chorus. Lionel Bart’s familiar songs had many in the audience humming along and at a little over two hours the time passes swiftly, just long enough for those watching children not to get too restless!
Catch Omid Djalili in Oliver!
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