Russ Abbot as Fagin from June 14th Russ Abbot will be take over the role of Fagin in the hit musical Oliver! from 14 June. Russ has played the role of Fagin before at the Palladium, at the Theatre Royal and also on tour. His other credits include Grandpa Potts in hit musical Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Alfred P. Doolittle in My Fair Lady. Most recently, Russ played the role of Hobbo in the latest series of BBC 1′s Last of the Summer Wine. Russ takes over from that other favourite entertainer Griff Rhys Jones. Griff has played the role for the last 5 months but he bids farewell to Oliver! on Saturday 12 June.
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I posted to theatrebreaksinlondon.co.uk
Oliver – new Fagin
http://theatrebreaksinlondon.co.uk/94/oliver-new-fagin/
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May 24 2010, 12:40pm | Comments »
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I posted to theatrebreaksmag.co.uk
Oliver! London
http://theatrebreaksmag.co.uk/oliver-london/
Today I’m looking at Oliver! the hit West end musical, as I continuing my series for the magazine of my top 5 classic shows. These are the shows that I think everyone could enjoy whatever their musical taste, and I feel that should definitely hold true for Oliver! London today is still in some ways related to the brutal city that Dickens portrays, but Oliver’s magic comes from more than just the story. It is the heart, passion and spectacle of the production that keeps Oliver! London’s own popular choice for musical theatre breaks. Oliver! London Theatre At It’s Best I think Oliver! is a great choice for a theatre break. The elements of an emotional story from the master storyteller, a superb cast and wonderful songs we all already know and love is hard to beat. Add in some delightful urchins, a backdrop of semi-familiar London sights and you have got a real treat! The Story, Oliver! London musical The musical version of Oliver! is not quite as bleak a vision as that of the book. Fagin is transformed and although still a rogue he does have moments of being almost lovable. We are treated to some marvelous set pieces like the scene in the orphanage and of course Fagin’s Den with his band of ragamuffins. What happens to Nancy is still a shock but in the end good triumphs over evil and we all have the feeling we’ve just enjoyed a wonderfully satisfying meal with all the trimmings. The Cast of Oliver!
Oliver London We all followed the story of Jodie Prenger as she fought her way through each round of I’d Do Anything but few of us realised what a great Nancy she would actually be. Since the show started back in December 2008 Jodie has consistently given stunning performances. She has provided the chore around which a number of Olivers and Fagins have been able to weave their own interpretations of Dickens’s heart-breaking story. Without a totally believable, warm and lovable Nancy the whole story would fall flat. Jodie has filled that role with a passion. Soon, though, Jodie is moving on and the next few months will give us our last chance to see her in the role. That alone would be enough to make this a ‘must see’ show but the exciting news is that the wonderful Kerry Ellis is going to take over in the role. Kerry has a very different quality to her voice and I think she will give us a much more waif like Nancy. In some ways her fragility with that inner steel that she showed so well in her performances as Elphaba (Wicked) will be much closer to Dickens’s vision. It’s going to be an interesting transfer and one that will definitely be worth seeing. The newest member of the cast at the moment is Griff Rhys Jones who has just taken over as Fagin. He will be in the show for at least the next 6 months and seems to be relishing the part of the wily, old scoundrel. Jones has a good strong voice and plenty of West End experience having won a double Olivier award for his roles in Charlie’s Aunt and An Absolute Turkey Also new in the current cast is Stephen Hartley, though he is far from new to the role of Bill Sikes. He played Sikes in the Palladium production of Oliver in the 1990s. Physically he is closer to Dickens’s description of Sikes than the role is sometimes played and none the worse for that. The Music I think I’ll just let the music speak for itself!
Hotels for Oliver! London Theatre Breaks As Oliver! plays at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane I’d go for a central hotel, somewhere like the 4* Strand Palace would be ideal. It is definitely a bit of affordable luxury and is close to the theatre and to the shops, restaurants and bars of Covent Garden. If you are on a slightly tighter budget the 3* St Giles Hotel is only 1/2 a mile away and is jolly nice. So there you have it, a quick guide to Oliver! London, one of my top 5 choices for theatre breaks. You can click through to read more about Oliver! London.
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December 17 2009, 12:42pm | Comments »
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I posted to usefulwiki.com
Oliver! Good Luck to the New Fagin
http://usefulwiki.com/londontheatre/oliver-good-luck-to-the-new-fagin.html
Omid Djalili takes over as Fagin at tomorrow night’s (July 20th 2009) performance of Oliver! There’s a super interview with him in The Sunday Independent. In it we learn that Omid is not Muslim, as many people assume, but a member of the Bah’ai faith. He talks about playing a Jewish character and says: “I think that if you’re playing a Jewish character, and if you can find the truth of something in that character, then that’s OK,” It sounds like his Fagin will be quite different to Rowan Atkinson’s interpretation. The interviewer says: it is a genuine shock when Fagin himself walks into the dressing-room. As Lionel Bart’s musical take on Dickens’s most ‘orrible villain, he is sullen, scowling and deeply scary. “I’m so pleased you like the look!” he says as I recoil from his handshake and the make-up lady begins to wipe away the bruised circles under his eyes. I wouldn’t say I “like” it: the look is chilling. It will frighten children. I think this bodes very well for the production. Fagin should slightly give you the chills, he’s not a cosy character and he should make us uneasy. So if you go to Oliver! and see Omid Djalili please leave us a comment and tell us what you think of the new Fagin.
a Oliver! Good Luck to the New Fagin
Related posts:Oliver! The New Fagin to be Omid DjaliOliver! extends booking through to 2010Oliver! another new Fagin
July 19 2009, 7:01am | Comments »
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I posted to usefulwiki.com
Oliver! extends booking through to 2010
http://usefulwiki.com/londontheatre/oliver-extends-booking-through-to-2010.html
Oliver! is now booking through to February 2010 to meet the increasing demand for tickets. News that Omid Djalili will taking over the role of Fagin from Rowan Atkinson in July has not made any difference to booking levels. For many people the easiest way to get tickets for the dates you want will be to book them as part of an Oliver theatre break.
Related Posts:Oliver! The New Fagin to be Omid DjaliRowan Atkinson Dates for OliverFagin as played by Mr Bean?Behind The Scenes of Oliver! The MusicalOliver! Main Cast Members Announceda Oliver! extends booking through to 2010
February 24 2009, 12:25pm | Comments »
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I posted to usefulwiki.com
Rowan Atkinson Dates for Oliver
http://usefulwiki.com/londontheatre/rowan-atkinson-dates-for-oliver.html
Rowan Atkinson has recently had to miss two performances of Oliver the musical in which he plays Fagin, due to a strained voice, but he has fully recovered and is now back at work. Rowan Atkinson has performed in the musical since mid-December alongside Jodie Prenger as Nancy and Gwion Jones, Harry Stott and Laurence Jeffcoate as alternate Olivers.
Oliver the musical is set to run and run but Rowan Atkinson will continue in the role of Fagin until 18 July 2009 with one short holiday from 26th March to 5 April. Tickets for shows in March and April are running out fast but there are still good dates available for theatre breaks to see Oliver
Related Posts:Oliver! Main Cast Members AnnouncedFagin as played by Mr Bean?Oliver! The Musical Theatre Breaks and Full Cast ListOliver! theatre breaks on sale nowBehind The Scenes of Oliver! The Musicala Rowan Atkinson Dates for Oliver
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February 4 2009, 5:45pm | Comments »
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