Oliver!

I don't get to see a lot of theatre. Firstly because I have to book ahead and the performances are specific and short-lived. Given that with things like movies I usually just decide-and-go, theatre's always just been off my radar. It's not something I dislike by any means, it's just something I rarely get to.

Since I've been in Auckland I've been to a few student productions at uni, but I haven't been to a professional theatre production since my grandmother took me to Talking Heads starring Dame Maggie Smith back when I lived in Wellington.

But last night I had an opportunity to see Auckland Theatre Company's production of Oliver! and it was awesome.

The one thing that I really loved was the set. I'm a movie girl - and it's likely I'll always be a movie girl - so I really love how the theatre uses it's limited space to create a range of situations. Unlike a film, which just goes to a location, the theatre has to use what it's got, and the spinning staircase managed to be an orphanage, a pub, a market, a hideout, a mansion and the London Bridge. Some might call the movies magic, but really, being able to take one structure and realistically turn it into at least 6 locations? That's magic.

The musical numbers were fantastically put together. It's not a jazz-hands performance, being from the older school of musicals, but that didn't mean they weren't entertaining or exciting in their own right - the tunes are still stuck in my head and I expect them to remain there for some time.

Finally, the cast were great. There were a couple of moments that seemed over-acted, but for the most part the show was very well put together. I was lucky enough to see a performance with Mitchell Hageman playing Oliver (there are two Olivers, the other being played by Conrad Edwards) and I was blown away by the presence of such a tiny person. Ultimately the entire cast worked great together to create a brilliant performance.

Tickets for Oliver! are pretty much sold out for the rest of the season, however if you're lucky enough to be holding tickets, you're in for a treat!