Jodie Prenger made for a delightfully sexy, feisty, yet vulnerable Nancy. From the boisterous exuberance of “Oom-Pah-Pah” to the softly defiant “As Long As He Needs Me”, her powerful voice delivered both cockney character and raw fervour. I will have to read the novel to try to discover how she came to be the preferred company of Burn Gorman’s dark and menacing Bill Sikes.
Certain scenes of Dickens’ tale are played out on a clever, elevating two-tier system, allowing us to see what is happening above ground, as well as what is happening below in Fagin’s underground lair.
Given the enthusiastic performances and unforgettable songs, I hope the cast and crew will consider themselves at home at the Theatre Royal for a long time to come. (Rowan Atkinson will star as Fagin until 18 July 2009.)
Article comments
1 - Jon Sobel
Argh! I was I was in London to see it.