A little more to make it perfect

OLIVER!, Oldham Coliseum, to Saturday
CONGRESS Players returned to the revitalised Coliseum for their second production of the year and what better show than one that has been a favourite for 50 years?

Lionel Bart’s masterpiece rarely disappoints and doesn’t at all here, though opening night could have been a little slicker and more energetic at times.

The problem wasn’t one of a lack of commitment, but simply a bit of rollercoaster effect across the evening.

The first half hour passes enjoyably but unmemorably and then there’s a whoosh of excitement as “Consider Yourself” lights up the stage, all guns are blazing and it looks like the show is about to take off.

But then we drop more deeply into Fagin’s lair and things cool a little, with a slightly underdone performance from Paul Allison as Fagin . . . until the superb Dawn Leigh arrives as Nancy and the stage lights up again with “I’d Do Anything”, “It’s a Fine Life, “Oom Pah Pah” — and of course Nancy’s signature “As Long as He Needs Me”, superbly rendered.

And so the evening goes, rising to the big song occasions and dropping back rather too much for the quieter scenes.

Along the way Matthew McGreevy is enjoyable as Dodger and young Liam Gartland sweetly determined as Oliver; Jon Crebbin and Lisa Kay are in fine voice as Bumble and Mrs Corney and Billy Pretsel positively frightening as Sikes.

I’ve no doubt much of this will improve as the week continues and considering the terrific set with its bridge and London backdrops, the great costumes and huge number of bodies on stage, director John Wood does a generally very strong job. But merely very good sounds a little undercooked for a company as renowned and often brilliant as this one.

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