L'arc en Ciel's 'Oliver' a family affair

Angie Lowe, co-director of L'arc en Ciel Theatre Group's production of "Oliver," sees rough edges in the longtime musical favorite.

"Interestingly, for a family musical, it has pretty dark topics with abuse, murder, and thievery," she said. "Bad guys get away with stuff, and good guys are victims, but it has a happy ending."

Opening Jan. 20 and running through Feb. 5 at St. John's Great Oaks After 4 Club, "Oliver" tells the tale of the title character, an orphan in an impoverished section of London town who discovers he has a living grandmother. In his quest to find her, Oliver meets a bevy of colorful characters of varying degrees of repute.

Adapted from Charles Dickens 19th Century classic "Oliver Twist," "Oliver" was adapted for the stage by British composer Lionel Bart in 1960. Featuring songs such as "I'd Do Anything," "You've Got to Pick a Pocket or Two" and "As Long as He Needs Me," "Oliver" debuted in London's West End before making it to Broadway in 1962, where it took home a trio of Tony Awards.

"Oliver" returned to Broadway in 1984 and was a smash in its homeland when it was revived three years ago.

"'Oliver,' of course is a classic," Lowe said. "Lionel Bart knew what he was doing. He just put things in such a simple way. The lyrics and the music are just rippling. You go out of the show whistling. It's an amazing piece of theater."

Lowe, who is directing "Oliver" with her husband, Paul Lowe, was inspired to bring the musical to the Great Oaks stage by Crown Point's Steve Becker, a fan of L'arc en Ciel's youth–geared productions who is taking on the role of the criminal minded Fagin. Becker, along with St. John's Aaron Cappello, who is playing the title role in L'arc en Ciel's production, and Brandon Kratkoczki, who plays the Artful Dodger, persuaded the couple to stage the musical.

"Those little stinkers conspired and connived, in a wonderful way, to do this show," Lowe said, laughing. "It's a kid's show with kids and big kid adults, and we are having such a good time doing this. Why wouldn't we want to do this show?"

A family style dinner will be served 90 minutes prior to each show time.