“I’m reviewing the situation”

I was lucky enough to be granted the role of Fagin after a competitive audition process. Honestly said I was really nervous on playing this role as I have never really played an older gentleman, let alone a father figure. So I was unsure about how I wanted to tackle this role and prepare for this. In order to at least prepare for this role, I decided that I wanted to sport a fashionable beard in order to at least look the part and make it easier for me to understand the importance of that role. As a school, I think we are trying to make it fresh and relevant to kids. I think we are trying to veer off some of the more traditional tropes of the musical. Often Broadway and Western musicals are deemed so precious that we never try to change or freshen them up. This musical has been done the same way for 60 years. The directors felt we could make it more fresh, relevant and modern for the kids by including a variety of things such as modern references for example.

The story of Oliver that we did starts when living in a workhouse, orphan Oliver dared to ask for more food, wardens said that he should gather his belongings and to get out. Mr Bumble and Widow Corney sold the boy to local mortician but he managed to escape from them. Wandering the streets of London, Oliver met with the Artful Dodger. Dodger asked the boy to go with him into the lair of Fagin. He, old criminal, taught children how to steal because he could not do it himself due to old age. The unsuspecting Oliver went along with Dodger. He thought that these children made handkerchiefs and the story continues unit finally Oliver finds his Grandfather and lives with him and Fagin runs away leaving his treasures behind.

During the performance, I felt that my portrayal was accurate and justified my role in production. Not only did I manage to comically time all the jokes to get laughter from the audience perfectly but I also showed the vulnerability that is portrayed in the solo scenes when Fagin is on stage due to him reflecting and being sad of his old age. I overall was proud of my performance and glad to have been part of this amazing touch on a stage for the past three years. I am thankful to the cast and directors for being my family and being there for me through all my troubles. This has been a blast.