Oliver! at the Theatre Royal Windsor Review
Oliver!
Theatre Royal, Windsor
27-31 October 2015
Reviewed by Jo Bennett
Last night I was at the Theatre Royal in Windsor to see the musical Oliver brought to life on stage by young actor Thomas Smith, from Slough Windsor and Maidenhead Theatrical Company (SWMTC), and Thomas was brilliant in his first major role for them.
Most of us know the story of Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist and how tough live was for children in Victorian times. With colourful characters such as the Artful Dodger, Fagin, Bill Sikes and of course Oliver!
The musical opened with the workhouse dining room scene where the children are eating their gruel and the fantastic ‘Food, glorious food ‘ song and the iconic line where Oliver asks Mr Bumble “Please Sir, I want some more”.
The scene where Oliver gets sold for£5 was moving and then the funny moment in the undertakers where he is put to work.
The show is packed with well-known songs, I was quietly singing along to ‘Consider Yourself ‘, ‘Pick a Pocket or Two’ and ‘It’s a Fine Life’.
During the interval we had drinks in the quaint little bar and I hired booster seats so my eight year olds could see better which was a great idea.
After the break the show was back in full swing with Nancy and ‘Oom pah pah’ and Bill Sikes’ ‘My Name’. Bill also had his dog Bullseye much to the delight of the audience. The Artful Dodger played by Charlie Mulford was also a favourite as his cheekiness was spot on.
The costumes and sets really took as back in time and everything was wonderfully done.
This is a must see family show with a cast of experienced actors supported by very talented children from the local area. We all had a great time, well done to all involved at SWMTC.
Rating: 5/5 
Tickets cost from £11 to £33 (booking fees may apply).
Oliver! is at the Theatre Royal in Windsor until 31 October 2015. For more information or to book tickets click here or call the box office 01753 853 888.
Theatre Royal Windsor, Thames Street, Windsor, Berkshire SL4 1PS | 01753 853 888
