Oliver!

Published Monday 7 September 2009 at 11:20 by Matthew Hemley

It takes around 40 minutes for Cameron Mackintosh’s revival of Oliver! to really come alive, but when it does, it’s worth the wait. The song that does it is Consider Yourself, a number that demonstrates all that is wonderful about this production, and highlights musical theatre at its best.

Tight ensemble work, excellent choreography from Matthew Bourne, atmospheric lighting from the ever-impressive Paule Constable and sumptuous set and costume designs by Anthony Ward all combine to remind you how powerful this genre can be when delivered well. The energy that sweeps the stage with this number is one that continues from here on in, particularly with the arrival of the show’s new Fagin, in the form of Omid Djalili, best known for having his own comedy show on BBC1.

On the face of it, Djalili might not appear to be the most obvious choice for Fagin, but any doubts that miscasting may have taken place are soon put aside. Djalili puts his stand-up comedy skills to great use in scenes where he appears to be ad-libbing, making jokes about politicians’ expenses and the banking crisis, and, as you might expect, he demonstrates perfect comic timing. However, he is able to combine the lighter side of Fagin with the character’s darker side and also successfully taps into the role’s more gentle attributes where appropriate. His singing is also something of a revelation and Djalili proves himself to be up there with the likes of Jodie Prenger, who plays Nancy, when it comes to delivering a showstopper such as You’ve Got to Pick a Pocket or Two.

Quite simply, Djalili is a natural performer and a great choice for the role. He delivers a performance that, along with the stunning visual aspects of this production - the likes of which are not matched anywhere else in the West End - lingers in the mind long after the show has finished.