American Repertory Theatre

"A great novel has been transformed into truly stunning theatre." The Daily Telegraph

OLIVER TWIST

American Premiere (adaptation)

based on the novel by Charles Dickens
adapted and directed by Neil Bartlett

February 17 - March 24, 2007
at the Loeb Drama Center

click any image for slide show
all photos by Michael J. Lutch

ARTicles & Video - cast - photos - synopsis - links

Inspired by the vivid world of Victorian music-hall, Neil Bartlett's staging of Oliver Twist uses the original language of Dickens' novel to dramatize one of the most deeply felt stories about childhood ever written. A cast of unforgettable characters brings the underworld of nineteenth-century London back to thrilling life – a city teeming with images of danger and fear – all seen through the eyes of an astonished child. By turns comic and tragic, musical and dramatic, Neil's adaptation of was a runaway success in London. We're thrilled to welcome him back to the A.R.T., together with designer Rae Smith, to recreate this sensational production for our audience.

set and costume design by Rae Smith
lighting design by Scott Zielinski
music by Gerard McBurney
music adaptor and director Simon Deacon
movement director Struan Leslie
sound design by David Remedios

Produced in association with Theatre for a New Audience and Berkeley Repertory Theatre.

Running time is approximately two hours and fifteen minutes including one fifteen-minute intermission.

CAST

John Dawkins, the Artful Dodger
... Carson Elrod
Oliver Twist
... Michael Wartella
Mr. Bumble
... Remo Airaldi
Mrs. Bumble
... Karen MacDonald
Mr. Sowerberry/Mr. Grimwig/Mr. Fang
... Thomas Derrah
Bill Sykes/Mrs. Sowerberry
... Gregory Derelian
Nancy 
... Jennifer Ikeda
Fagin
... Ned Eisenberg
Noah Claypole/Tom Chitling
... Steven Boyer
Charley Bates
... Craig Pattison
Toby Crackit
... Lucas Steele
Mr. Brownlow
... Will LeBow
Rose Brownlow/Charlotte Sowerberry
... Elizabeth Jasicki

PHOTOS - click any image for slide show

SYNOPSIS

OIiver Twist is a young orphan who never knew his father. After his mother dies, he is raised in a harsh juvenile home, then at a workhouse,where he runs foul of the authorities by asking for more food. As punishment Oliver is apprenticed to an undertaker, but he escapes and makes his way to London, where he meets the Artful Dodger, a young pickpocket. Dodger introduces Oliver to a band of criminals led by Fagin and the murderous Bill Sikes, who train him in the art of picking pockets. Oliver’s new life of crime leads him through a series of extraordinary adventures, culminating in a terrifying chase across the rooftops of London – and a chance encounter with a man who holds the secret of the boy’s true identity.

RELATED LINKS

Order the poster designed by Burt Sun via the zazzle.com website.

Major Production Sponsors
Philip and Hilary Burling
Hod and Cassandra Irvine

This page updated April 6, 2007
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