Veteran actor Michael Ballam (center) and members of the juvenile chorus of ‘Oliver!’ perform a song and dance number in the ongoing production of the Lionel Bart musical by the Utah Festival Opera & Musical Theatre (Photo by Waldron Creative).
LOGAN – Cache Valley residents and summer citizens turned out in droves at the Ellen Eccles Theatre to see Michael Ballam reprise his 2011 role as the crafty villain Fagin in the musical Oliver!
The grand old man of the Utah Festival Opera & Musical Theatre responded with another of his trademark incomparable performances.
The local impresario was supported by an impressive cast in the flawless debut production on July 6.
As the title character, young Ross Clemens was up to the singing and acting challenges of the crucial role that has doomed many productions of this Lionel Bart musical.
UFOMT veteran Levi Hopkins was brilliantly cast as Oliver’s partner-in-crime, the Artful Dodger. After a period of fairly slow exposition in Act I, Oliver! really came to life with Hopkin’s first entrance and he led show’s standout chorus of juvenile pick-pockets in the rousing song “Consider Yourself.”
With those youthful actors carrying their own weight, the adults in Oliver! were free to perform at the top of their game and they did just that.
The role of Fagin in Charles Dickens’ 1838 novel is the epitome of evil, but Michael Ballam wisely injected a judicous measure of reluctant humanity in his characterization. His Fagin sentimentally cares about his gang of petty thieves and has a conscience – although not much of one.
The veteran trouper makes a nuanced characterization like that of Fagan look easy because – for him – it is easy.
Michael Ballam’s standout performances of the songs “You’ve Got to Pick a Pocket or Two,” “Be Back Soon” and especially “Reviewing the Situation” are simply unforgettable.
Other denizens of the London underworld weren’t so cuddly, however. As the brutal thug Bill Sikes, UFOMT newcomer Christopher Jobs exudes a real aura of menace.
Much of that menace is directed at Vanessa Ballam in the role of barmaid Nancy, who stands up to Sikes in a climatic confrontation to save Oliver.
As usual, Ms. Ballam was sensational, demonstrating the breathtaking range of her acting, singing and dancing talents.
The contributions of this production’s huge adult singing and dance ensembles to the success of Oliver! cannot be over-emphasized.
Director George Pinney performed double-duty as choreographer for the musical and his contributions resulted in a rollicking dance performance of the tavern song “Oom Pah Pah” that opened Act II. Minutes later, the audience thrilled to the sheer beauty of a choral rendition of the haunting “Who Will Buy?”
The orchestra for Oliver! was directed by Karen Keltner, the resident conductor of the San Diego Opera.
The UFOMT recycled the 2011 set designs by Dennis Hassan, giving the production an appropriately moody tone.
Additional evening performances of Oliver! are slated for July 11, 17, 28 and Aug. 5.
Matinee performances are also scheduled for July 13, 19, 22 and 31.
All performances will be staged in the Ellen Eccles Theatre in downtown Logan.