Consider Yourself Part of the Audience

The Manx Operatic Society return to the world’s greatest theatre with their production of Oliver! this week and what a show it is shaping up to be.

The show opens on Saturday March 16 and runs through to Saturday March 23 and tickets are going quicker than a pickpocket in a hurry.

We’ve been lucky enough to see rehearsals and with Morgan Smith and Parker Kissack sharing the lead role, you’ll be in good hands as they take us through the extraordinary tale of Oliver Twist.

Featuring the classic tunes of Lionel Bart’s production, the cast brings one of Charles Dickens most influential stories to life in way that will leave you wanting, as Chris Maybury’s Mr Bumble would say, ‘MOOOOOORE’.

Along the way we meet the Art Dodger, played superbly by William Cowley and Thomas McAleer, who in turn introduces us to Mark Dougherty’s fantastically twisted Fagin and Jonathan Sleight intense Bill Sykes.

No story of Oliver! is complete without the tragically hopeful Nancy, brought to the stage by Vicki McLachlan, who also absolutely nails arguably the show’s most famous song ‘As Long as He Needs Me’.

While the show is set within the misery of the poor areas of Victorian London, the Manx Operatic Society ensure it never loses its heart, optimism or dark sense of humour.

One major word of warning, you will absolutely have these songs stuck in your head for a few days after, I found myself humming ‘You’ve Got to Pick a Pocket or Two’ on Saturday night after going to last Thursday’s rehearsal!

From the lead roles to the ensemble, you can see the cast have had a blast putting this show together and you will have a blast going to see it.

Tickets are available at the VillaGaiety website or at the Sea Terminal or Villa Marina box office, but make sure to keep hold of them, gangs of musical pickpockets will be in the area…