Oliver! posts closing notices
Preview by Lizzie Guilfoyle
CAMERON Mackintosh’s record-breaking revival of Oliver! has posted closing notices at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane where it was booking until February 26, 2011. It will now close on January 8, 2011.
But before then – on June 30, 2010 – and for one night only, legendary Fagin Ron Moody will make a special “50th birthday” appearance in the role he first played at the New Theatre in 1960.
The current Drury Lane cast includes Kerry Ellis (as Nancy), Russ Abbot (Fagin), Steven Hartley (Bill Sikes), Julian Glover (Mr Brownlow), Julius D’Silva (Mr Bumble), Wendy Ferguson (Widow Corney), Julian Bleach (Mr Sowerberry/Dr Grimwig), Louise Gold (Mrs Sowerberry/Mrs Bedwin) and Tamsin Carroll (alternate Nancy).
It’s thought that the closure of Oliver! will make way for the Broadway transfer of Shrek!, a stage adaptation of the Dreamworks animated films.
Previously Posted: On June 14, 2010, Russ Abbot will take over the role of Fagin from Griff Rhys Jones in Cameron Mackintosh’s record-breaking revival of Oliver!, which is currently booking at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane until February 26, 2011.
He will be joining Kerry Ellis (as Nancy) and Steven Hartley (Bill Sikes).
Abbot is no stranger to the production having stepped in for an incapacitated Rowan Atkinson in April last year. He also played the role of Fagin during the production’s last West End outing at the Palladium and on its subsequent UK tour.
Although Abbot is best known for his long-running TV comedy series The Russ Abbot Show, his other West End credits include The Producers, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and My Fair Lady.
Based on Charles Dickens’ classic novel Oliver Twist, Oliver! is the story of a young orphan boy who runs away from an orphanage and becomes involved with a group of boys trained to be pickpockets by an elderly mentor, the incorrigible Fagin.
It includes the songs Food Glorious Food, Consider Yourself, You’ve Got To Pick-A-Pocket Or Two, As Long as He Needs Me, I’d do Anything and, of course, the title song.
Based on Sam Mendes’ 1994 staging at the London Palladium, Oliver! is directed by Rupert Goold, Artistic Director of Headlong Theatre, who won Olivier, Critics’ Circle and Evening Standard Awards for Best Director for his Patrick Stewart-led Macbeth.
Read more about Oliver!