How About a Revival of OLIVER! — Page 3

Don't get me wrong, I love the score. Most of it, anyway. I find that musical theatre is supposed heighten an emotion through song, the song in question should only come when the character has no other way to express themself. I feel that there are moments in the stage version of Oliver! where music is just not needed.

And what I mean by Bill Sykes being hardly mentioned in the first act is that the references to him don't mean anything if it is not explained who he is. When Fagin says that Dodger is bound to be another Bill Sykes and Nancy sings "Even fight my Bill?" and Didger replies "What?! Fisticuffs!", they don't really mean anything. I remember when I first saw the show I didn't laugh at the "fisticuffs" line because I had no friggin' clue who they were talking about. I wouldn't mind it if they briefly mentioned Bill Sykes and left him a mystery until Act 2, but constant mentions of him without any explanation is annoying, I find.

And yes, I have that recording on cassette. The actor gives an appropriately raw performance of it, but I still find the song laughable. Simply because of its placement in the show. Bill Sykes does not seem like a character who would sing. I really don't like the Nancy on that recording, though.

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Bolger would be a fantastic Nancy.

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I think that the biggest problem with idina menzel would be her voice not her acting. Idina Menzel is great at creating a sympathetic character that the audience can root for and she has that grit that is needed for Nancy. But her high belt is just not right for the role you need some one with more "round" or "full" voice and hopefully a voice that fits naturally in the lower register.

Judy McLane (currently in Mamma Mia) played Nancy at the Papermill a few years back. I'd love for her to get a chance to play the role on Broadway.

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"I second Daphne Rubin-Vega as Nancy. Yes, her voice is different, but she would act the hell out of the role."

This is what was said when she was cast as Fantine. DRV would not do justcie to "It's a Fine Life" or "Oom Pah Pah".

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Updated On: 4/23/07 at 02:20 PM

Why would Emily Skinner need to "lose a little"? I can't remember anything referring to Nancy as skinny.

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I have always wanted to see a full scale revival of Oliver, but with a young Nancy, I think part of Nancy's charm in the book is that she was so young, I would actually love to see Anneliese Van Der Pol play the role. She has the pipes, and can obviously pull off the dramatic stuff as she was Eva in Evita.

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Rachel York for Nancy.

I love how nobody really gives a @#$ about who plays anyone else.

Skingdom out out and away.