Our final show of the season continues to explore the portrayal of Jews in pre-20th Century European drama with the New York premiere of Oliver Twist. Like Shakespeare and Marlowe, Dickens positions his outsider figures √¢‚Ǩ‚Äú the orphan Oliver and Fagin, a Jew – against a Christian society, testing the reality of its claims to provide mercy, charity, and love to those in need. Using Dickens’ original words, British author and director Neil Bartlett has presented an acclaimed adaptation which won rave reviews in England. During its run at the Lyric Hammersmith in London, the Daily Telegraph reported: √¢‚Ǩ≈ìNeil Bartlett√¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s wonderful production is the equal of the RSC√¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s Dickensian epic [Nicholas Nickleby in 1982]√¢‚Ǩ¬¶A great novel has been transformed into truly stunning theatre.√¢‚Ǩ¬ù
Taking its cue from the foot-lit world of the music hall, Oliver Twist’s cast of thirteen conjures up one of the angriest, funniest and most deeply felt stories about childhood ever written.