OLIVER! (2002)
“Oliver!” was the first of our “back by popular demand” productions. It was the fourth time I had directed this play but it remains one of my favourite shows to do....great story line, good characters to play, and some wonderful music. It was another highly successful show.The set design again proved to be an eye-catcher. As one person wrote, “the set was simply magnificent in its design and simplicity. It really worked”. Another wrote: “ what a fabulous, marvellous, magical experience for all of us”. The performance featured strong characters, a solid orchestra and good costumes. The cast and orchestra put in fine performances. They were supported by the another “whole Yale community effort” (this has become a trademark of our productions). I’m always indebted to our volunteers for their great contributions to our success.
A few anecdotes: for this show we added an extension to the stage that extended the stage across the theatre at a lower level thus giving us another acting level that brought the cast to closer contact with the audiences (this drew several positive remarks). The “never act with kids and dogs” thing struck again....”Sampson” played the role of Bill Sykes’s dog Bullseye. During one performance, Sampson was injured while outside the theatre during the intermission.....the dog bravely continued the performance but was injured enough to have to miss the next one......what to do?....fortunately our stage manager owned a black lab that learned its cues and stage moves quickly enough to assume the role of Bullseye the next night (an understudy for a dog ??!!??). We also had “Chip”, a budgie, that played the role of Fagin’s “Birdie”. Yar Recned returned to the stage for this show as the lamplighter and as member of the townspeople ensemble. “Dencer’s Ales” was on the Three Cripples Pub sign.
This was my last show before I retired from full-time teaching but, fortunately for me, I was offered (and gladly accepted) a series of short term contracts that enabled me to go on Directing productions at Yale for a few more years.
see also: Memory Lane (Photos) - Oliver 2002
