THEATER REVIEW : ‘Oliver’ Has Dickens of a Time Overcoming Disarray

LAGUNA BEACH — The prevalence of blind-casting in theater today sometimes works, and sometimes not. In the case of the West Coast Performing Arts Center’s production of the musical version of Dickens’ “Oliver,” at the Forum Theatre, it doesn’t.

Perhaps director Mario Lescot thought the youth of the two main characters would cloud the audience’s mind. Christine Woods looks right for young Oliver, but her obvious femininity gives an odd flavor to her otherwise able performance.

The problem is compounded by the long blond hair, done up in a French twist and braid, that adorns Tal Feingold’s Artful Dodger. (And neither of the young actresses should wear lipstick.)

Feingold does rise above the uncomfortable ambiguousness of her casting to give one of the production’s better performances, full of energy and a couple of dollops of music-hall pizazz in her strong vocal delivery.

Lescot casts all of the other characters in the genders Dickens wrote them. (A female Fagin or Bill Sykes would be as regrettable as a female Dodger.) Gordon Yeaton Jr.’s Fagin, in spite of a pronounced Gentile flavoring, has a sense of fun and a buoyancy that is infectious, as is the pseudo-heavy ambience that Lescot gives Bill Sykes.

The best performance comes from Christy Laschiver as Nancy. She also has a good voice that lends body and shading to her treatment of her songs, particularly “Oom Pah Pah” and “As Long As He Needs Me.” John Bowerman’s Mr. Bumble and Mike Urdaneta’s Noah Claypole also provide energy and good period flavor when they’re onstage.

Many of the supporting cast are not up to their chores, particularly Jon Shaddy and Bonnie Elconin as the Sowerberrys; Shaddy fidgets instead of acts, and Elconin poses grandly and moves as though she were under water.

Most of Lescot’s staging is disorganized, without focus or flair, or much awareness of dramatic shape or form. The few good performances are lost in the disarray.

* “Oliver,” Forum Theatre, 650 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach. today-Saturday, 7 p.m. Ends Saturday. $8-$10. (714)588-5805. Running time:2 hours, 10 minutes.

Christine Woods Oliver

Tal Feingold The Artful Dodger

Gordon Yeaton Jr. Fagin

Christy Laschiver Nancy

Mario Lescot Bill Sykes

John Bowerman Mr. Bumble

Mike Urdaneta Noah Claypole

Jon Shaddy Mr. Sowerberry

Bonnie Elconin Mrs. Sowerberry

A West Coast Performing Arts Center and Laguna Shanti production. Based on the Charles Dickens novel. Music, lyrics and book by Lionel Bart. Directed by Mario Lescot. Choreography: Mark Sharon. Scenery, lights and sound: David Galante. Costumes: Joan Lescot.