Oliver! Altrincham Garrick

I CAN remember as a child being absolutely petrified of the Bill Sykes character in the big screen version of Oliver!

A tribute, of course, to the considerable acting skills of the late Oliver Reed, who was far more than just a headline making hell raiser.

Likewise, Charlie Tomlinson oozes menace as the notorious baddie in Altrincham Garrick's triumphant production of Lionel Bart's classic show.

The directing team that brought us Gypsy earlier in the season have been reunited for a musical that deserves far more than the empty seats that greeted me on opening night.

No excuses – the TV isn't that inspiring and the weather's not that bad. I studied in Sheffield where the climatic conditions we currently find ourselves in would have been considered balmy. Well no, but you get the gist.

Nathan Ng strikes the balance between being suitably cherubic and endearingly feisty as Oliver and he's sharing the plum role with Michael Gaughan.

I hope you like a challenge Michael, as Nathan also has one of the purest singing voices I've ever heard. You'll be biting your bottom lip during the beautiful number, Where Is Love?

For me, that's not the best song in the show. Who Will Buy? during which Oliver is serenaded by an assortment of street vendors congregating below his bedroom window, is my personal favourite, beginning as it does with a haunting solo.

Doubling up seems to be the order of the day here with Stephanie Niland sharing the role of Nancy, Bill Sykes' long suffering but bafflingly loyal girlfriend.

Her rendition of As Long As He Needs Me, in which this ultimately good sort tries to put the case for her devotion, is one of the high points of the show.

A show to make you forget your post Christmas credit card bill, Oliver! simply must not be missed. The whole cast shine.

- Oliver! is at Altrincham Garrick until Sunday. Tickets are £18 and the box office is on 0161 928 1677.

RICK BOWEN