Director: Joyce Levinsohn
Venue: NCT, Braamfontein
Actors: David Sherwood, Jodie Renouf, David Krawitz, Lebo Mochudi, Nicol Sheraton and a cast of children
When: Until August 4
Rating: ***
Enter the small theatre at the National Children's Theatre Trust and you step back into the London of Charles Dickens - smoke-grimed stone walls, battered timbers, tattered cloths, hanging inn signs
It's quite an achievement capturing the involved and atmospheric tale of Oliver Twist - the boy who asked for more - in an hour and a half on a small stage. Of course, it is helped by the music, the songs that are now classics - Food, Glorious Food, Gotta Pick a Pocket or Two, Consider Yourself and others.
The adult cast, as always, have to double up, except for David Sherwood who plays a rather genial Fagin, without too much of a nasty edge. No nightmares here.
David Krawitz pulls off an imposing Brownlow and an interestingly nuanced Bill Sykes. So often he is played as a deep black villain, with no grey edges at all.
Jodie Renouf takes the female roles, including Nancy, Lebo Mochudi plays Monks and makes a fine policeman and Nicol Sheraton is nimble and convincing as the Artful Dodger.
There are two casts of children. The group I saw, knew what they were doing, but could have injected a lot more enthusiasm, focus and energy. Despite the professional gusto of the adults, the play started to drag. Perhaps opening night nerves were taking their toll.
It is a complicated, twisted plot and naturally a lot has to be left out, but there is enough to arouse interest and questions. Even in this pocket version there is a gritty realism to the staging and action which is an interesting contrast to the usual fantasy offered to children.