Luke Edwards, Niagara This Week
Oliver auditions take place in Sept. 13-17
Operatic Society looking for some more (actors) please. Pat Ballin, Anne Converset and Jeff Ballin, along with the rest of the crew from the Port Colborne Operatic Society, are preparing for auditions to this year’s performance of Oliver. Audition registrations
take place on Sept. 5 and Sept. 12.
LUKE EDWARDS/STAFF PHOTO Luke Edwards/Staff Photo
Will you do anything for a part in Oliver?
Audition registration for the Port Colborne Operatic Society’s rendition of Oliver will take place on Sept. 5 and 12 at 7 p.m. at Lakeshore Catholic High School. Auditions will run from Thursday, Sept. 13 to Sept. 17, and will consist of singing a Broadway song you know to show your comfort level with respect to range and/or reading selections from the script.
“It’s a classic Dickens story,” said dramatic director Anne Converset.
“It’s a well known story and one of the shows that make a social statement (about poverty).”
Oliver is based of the Charles Dickens novel Oliver Twist. It’s about a young orphan who is sold to a local undertaker and his family, who proceed to treat the young boy horribly.
Oliver escapes and is taken in by a group of young pick pockets, but gets caught during his first attempt. Oliver’s would-be victim takes pity on the boy and takes him into his own home. The move to the new home results in a struggle between Oliver and a couple affiliated with the young thieves.
There are a number of actors required for the show, and both adults and child actors will be needed. Among the main characters are: Fagin, who runs the pick pocket group; Mr. Brownlow, the would-be victim who takes in Oliver; the Artful Dodger, who takes Oliver to the pick pocketing group; and of course, Oliver Twist himself.
Some more famous tunes from Oliver include Where is Love?, Consider Yourself, and I’d Do Anything.
Once auditions are complete, rehearsals will take place every Wednesday at 7 p.m. until November, when rehearsals will take place on Wednesdays and Sundays. Shows begin on Saturday, Feb. 16 and continue on until March 3.
Converset said there will be some unique challenges with Oliver, including the extensive use of child actors in the show. It will also be a challenge to sound like an 18th century Brit.
“It will be a challenge getting rid of the Canadian accent and using an English accent,” she said.
The Operatic Society last put on Oliver in the mid-70s. In fact, it was the first show put on when the society moved to Lakeshore Catholic High School.
Anne Converset will be the dramatic director, with Faye Bean acting as music director.
The production is also seeking help for technical work, including builders, artists, makeup, lighting and sound, as ushers, coat check and refreshments volunteers for the shows.
For on-stage performers membership costs $20 for adults and $15 for children 7-16. Backstage memberships cost $10.
For audition tips and information, or any other information on the show, visit www.portcolborneoperaticsociety.com.