BWW Reviews: Please, Compass, I Want Some More: Compass Rose Studio Theater's OLIVER!

We can't all start at the Kennedy Center. Each actor, director, producer, costume designer and stage manager pays their dues, learns the ropes, and works their way up the "theatrical ladder", proving their talent and skills in a very intense industry.

Most any in the industry should consider themselves lucky to stumble upon Compass Rose Studio Theater, both a workshop studio and professional performance theater founded in the belief that theater education creates performance excellence. This small, shoe-box theater takes local talent - great local talent - and creates an open platform for pure, unadulterated dramatic creation.

Compass Rose is now hosting Oliver!, a musical by Lionel Bart, through June 3, 2012. Directed by Lucinda Merry-Browne, founder of Compass Rose, the theater pulls off a delightful, tender, and humorous production, highlighting a host of talent from the DC / MD / VA region.

Oliver!, the first musical adaptation of Charles Dickens's novel, Oliver Twist, premiered in the West End in 1960 and has been making its way - successfully - across theater stages ever since. The original Dickens novel has been simplified substantially for the musical translation and Fagin, in particular, a key character in the Dickens plotline, is represented as more of a comical character than as a villain in the stage adaptation.

The star of the performance is, of course, Oliver, played by Sarah Grace Clifton. An orphan boy, Oliver wins the hearts of the audience through his innocence and crafty ways as he makes his way through London in the 1850s. He naively stumbles into trouble with Fagin and his crew, and the plot twists and turns from that point forward as he navigates his way through the evil characters of London's dark streets. Clifton, at only 9 years old, shows great promise and has a charming youthful voice. She clearly is capable of hitting key notes, and should not be shy about singing with confidence and gusto - the talent is there: let it shine!

The character of Fagin, played by Daniel Siefring, is the ring-leader of the pick-pocket-ing children. He does a fantastic job of conveying…well…evil. His greasy hair and gruesome charcoal-stained fingers instantly convey that he is "the bad guy". In this particular case, however, The Bad Guy has a humorous and softer side, and Seifring expertly balances the two, at times exaggerating Fagin's ridiculousness to make him more human. His voice is dynamic and he clearly is capable of playing solid roles in the professional theater arena. His rendition of "Reviewing the Situation" is clever, wily, and absolutely worthy of a Broadway stage.

In addition to harnessing thriving local talent, Compass Rose also has done a wonderful job rounding up "behind-the-scenes" contributors critical to putting on its successful productions. The choreography, by Molly Densmore, maximizes Compass Roses's limited stage space and puts each square inch to effective use, creating constant physical action to enhance each scene. Additionally, Anita O'Connor's musical direction is spot on: not an off-key voice in the house. In fact, quite the opposite, as each of the actors and actresses boast strong, powerful voices that clearly reflect exceptional talent.

Compass Rose Studio Theater is a great addition to the Maryland theater scene. I have no doubt that this theater will continue to expand and attract the right talent, while simultaneously providing a launching pad to outstanding theatrical careers on some of the world's greatest stages.

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