Beginning on Wednesday, March 24 at 8 p.m., the nationally renowned Broadway musical "Oliver" is coming to Baltimore's Lyric Opera House. This classic musical, with a famous score written by Lionel Bart, is an adaptation of the Charles Dickens novel Oliver Twist, which was originally published in three volumes from Feb. 1837 to April of 1839.
Like the book, the musical tells the story of an orphan boy, Oliver, who, having escaped from his former residence in the stern Mr. Bumble's miserable orphanage for boys, finds himself on the streets of London having to fend for himself. He is befriended by a band of pickpockets led by the cunning Fagin who, though jovial when among the boys, has a sorted and dangerous personal life.
A series of profound, complicated, and often comical events involving the pickpockets and other markedly Dickens-distinctive characters in this 19th century society make up the plot of a tale in which Oliver searches for friends, for love and for a place in the world.
Even those who have not seen the musical are likely to have heard some of its famous and catchy songs, such as "Consider Yourself" and "Food, Glorious Food." However, nearly every song in the production is excellent, including the lesser known "Where is Love" and "As Long as He Needs Me." This is not a show to be missed.
Performances will be held from March 24-26 at 8 p.m., and March 27-28 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. To order tickets, call the Box Office at (410)-685-5086. For more information about the production, visit the Lyric Opera House's website at http://www.lyricoperahouse.com.
