'Oliver!' will have good fortune of a veteran

By BARBARA L. FREDRICKSEN, Arts and Entertainment
Published October 26, 2007

ADVERTISEMENT [Maurice Rivenbark | Times] P.J. Digaetano, one of two Olivers, and Dave Stenger as Mr. Bumble practice their roles for the musical, full of memorable tunes like Consider Yourself and Where Is Love? The director is pleased with her cast and crew and calls musical director Steven Schildbach "a brilliant musician."

Has it really been 14 years since Stage West Community Playhouse did the musical Oliver! at Springstead High School?

At the time, Steven Schildbach was about 10 or 11 years old and played a poor orphan.

On Thursday, Stage West will open its new production of Oliver! in its own theater, and this time, Schildbach will be the musical director.

"I met Steven in 1993 when he was one of the kids in the show," said show director Leanne Germann. "His mom, Susan, played Nancy (the female lead), and now he's the musical director, and we have come full circle."

Oliver! is the 1963 musical based on Charles Dickens' doleful tale of Oliver Twist. Writer-composer Lionel Bart's version keeps the basic story of a little boy trying to survive in the midst of poverty and crime in 19th century England, but he adds comic characters and beautiful or lively songs to make the play a treat.

The role of Oliver is being shared by P.J. Digaetano and Christian Gonzales.

"I couldn't really decide who was best; both did such a really good job on the auditions," Germann said. "But, mainly, because you never know when someone is going to up and get sick, especially a kid."

So P.J. will perform opening night, and from there on, the two boys will trade the role on alternating nights.

As the show opens, Oliver lives in an orphanage run by the heartless Mr. Bumble (Dave Stenger, Benny Southstreet in Guys and Dolls) and the amorous Widow Corney (Lynda Dilts-Benson, Mrs. Higgins in My Fair Lady).

When Oliver has the temerity to ask for a second helping of thin gruel, Mr. Bumble puts him up for sale (Boy for Sale). He is apprenticed to an undertaker and his wife, Mr. and Mrs. Sowerberry (Howard Christ and Patty Villegas, Cindy in 45 Seconds from Broadway), but as a result of their cruelties, runs away.

Oliver then meets the crafty Artful Dodger (Jesse Yarbrough), who introduces him to a band of young pickpockets, led by the conniving thief Fagin (Peter Clapsis, Pseudolus in Funny Forum; Og in Finian's Rainbow).

Fagin introduces Oliver to the kindly Nancy (Amanda Alvarez, Genie in Aladdin Jr.), whose vicious lover, Bill Sikes (Leslie Richards, Miles Gloriosis in Forum), will turn out to play a key role in Oliver's life.

If you go

'Oliver!'

Where: Stage West Community Playhouse, 8390 Forest Oaks Blvd., Spring Hill

When: Thursday and weekends through Nov. 18. Shows are at 8 p.m., except Sundays at 2 p.m.

Tickets: $18, reserved seating. Box office is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays and an hour before each show. Call (352) 683-5113.

[Last modified October 25, 2007, 20:19:02]