Oliver! What a challenge for our church-and-community group! But never accuse us of being shy of a challenge - or of not welcoming newcomers who want to be part of the project. And it is a joy to know that children from North Tawton School will once again be joining us to form a children's chorus - which of course comes on-stage, too, at times!
After our initial launch evening, and then the script read-through, came the auditions. New faces mingled with familiar ones, and the Director and Musical Directors were given a difficult job to make the right choices. The decision had already been made to double-cast for most of the singing roles, in order to include as many people as possible. As November dawns, and music rehearsals begin, virtually all roles have been cast, and the list looks like this (with the understudy, who will definitely do the Saturday matinée performance, in brackets):
Oliver - Amelie Browning (Eloise Tizard)
Dodger - Tim Sutton-Coulson (Louise Noyes)
Bet - Felicity Parsons (Faye Pimlott)
Charlie [one of Fagin's gang] - Lawrence Brereton
Fagin - John Palmer (Colin Pimlott)
Widow Corney - Chrissie Rogers
Mr. Sowerberry - Colin Pimlott (John Palmer)
Dr. Grimwig - Max Turner (Bill Sutton-Coulson)
Street Sellers in 'Who will buy' will involve the whole adult company
Bill Sykes - Nick Weldon
Mr. Brownlow - Ken Bragg
Mrs. Bedwin - Hilary Edwards
Don't forget to check the Calendar for rehearsal dates!