LITTLE ROCK — The Conway Dinner Theater has cast a show of "outlandish characters" to entertain the public in the performance of Oliver.
This is the second presentation of its 2009 season dubbed, "Dickens of a Season."
The show will run Friday and Saturday and again Friday, Aug. 7, and Saturday, Aug. 8, at Peace Lutheran Church at Donaghey Avenue and Dave Ward Drive. Dinner will be served at 6:15 p.m., with the performance starting at 7:30.
Oliver is based on Charles Dickens' classic, Oliver Twist. "It's the story of a young orphan and his journey toward finding a real family", said Shannah Cummings, co-director with Gerry Bruno. "Along the way, Oliver meets many interesting characters, each with their own quest for that sense of belonging. It's a show of outlandish characters with a great mix of laughter, drama, folksy tunes and dancing."
The local acting company is sponsored by Faulkner Academy of Arts.Joan Hanna is director of the academy, which also sponsors the Conway Women's Chorus.
In lead roles are:
◊Marshall Bellando as Oliver.
Marshall, 10, attends Ellen Smith Elementary School in Conway. He's been in several plays presented by Children's Theater to Go.
"I really like it (theater)," he said. "I like doing plays. This is the biggest part I've ever gotten. I had to audition, and they said I sang really good and they liked my monologue."
◊Jay Ruud as Fagin.
Ruud, whose daughter, Jenny, plays Nancy, grew up in Wisconsin. He moved to Conway about six years ago and is an English professor at the University of Central Arkansas.
"I've been doing community theater since 1972," he said. "In Oliver, I play Fagin, the gang leader.
"One of my co-workers said they wanted to come see the play in order to see me as the villain. I said, 'I'm not a villain at all. I provide a home for orphans, teach them marketable skills ... 'You've Got to Pick a Pocket or Two' (title of one of several songs in the musical)."
He also appeared in Conway Dinner Theater's productions of Harvey and Annie Get Your Gun.
◊Mary Nail as the Artful Dodger.
Mary, 11, attends Ruth Doyle Intermediate School in Conway. She's not new to the theater, having appeared last summer in a production presented by Youth Theatre of Central Arkansas. She also appeared in Conway Dinner Theater's production of Annie Get Your Gun.
"I have about four dreams for my life," she said with a smile. "Acting is one of them. But I really haven't decided yet."
◊Jenny Ruud as Nancy.
Ruud first performed with the local acting troupe in the fall of 2008 when she appeared in Harvey. She and her husband, Gerry Bruno, co-directed that play. Ruud said she went to school in New York and did "a lot of theater there." She is an academic adviser at UCA.
She said her character, Nancy, "used to be in Fagin's gang. She's pretty rough around the edges but has a good heart. She's with Bill Sikes, who is not nice at all."
◊Ron McDaniel as Bill Sikes.
This is McDaniel's fifth show with Conway Dinner Theater. "I'm a villain in this one," he said with a laugh. "Anything that you think is bad is what I do. I'm a rough-and-tumble, no-nonsense guy, out for No. 1."
McDaniel, who is from Jacksonville and is a senior vocal per formance major at the University of Central Arkansas, said this is the first time he has played a villain. "It's a great thing. I never get to play the villain," he said. " I'm usually the nice, fun guy."
◊ Mike Woodrum as Mr. Bumble.
This is the first time Woodrum, who is supervisor of the James H. Clark Auditorium for the Conway School District, has acted with Conway Dinner Theater. "I did appear in the 2004 production of Jesus Christ Superstar, presented jointly by UCA Theatre and Conway Community Arts Association," he said.
"My job is so hectic during the school year that I don't have time for theater. When I heard they were doing Oliver this summer, I thought it might be fun to try it. My character, Mr.Bumble, runs the workhouse. I love the character. He's a sinister character, but you get to see another side of him when he and the Widow Corney sing "I Shall Scream."
Woodrum said he appeared in vocal performances in high school in Louisville, Ky., and when he attended Murray State College, he was in the choir. He moved to Conway in 1982, and over the years lent his voice as a sportscaster on the local radio station KCON.
Other cast members includegang members and orphans Kennedy Reynolds, 11, who also plays Charlotte; Vera Lambert, 9; Douglas Butler, 7; Matthew Norris, 9; Kevin Glover, 12, who also plays Noah Claypole; and Corey Smith, l4, who also plays Charlie Bates. All attend Conway schools.
Adult ensemble members are Amanda Norris, who plays Bet; Amy Wittenberg, Widow Corney; Stacy Butler, Mrs. Bedwin; Rosalyn Moix, who is a dancer as well a street person; Barbara Sanders, Old Sally; Doris Thompson, Old Annie; Frank Norris, the night watchman; Dale Smith, Mr. Brownlow, all of Conway; Charity Davis of Mount Vernon, Mrs. Sowerberry; Andrew Buck of Little Rock, Mr. Sowerberry; and Donnie Belote of Greenbrier, Dr. Grimwig.
Oak Street Bistro will cater the evening meal. The menu for Oliver is spring salad with bread, roasted chicken with green beans and mashed potatoes and carrots. "In honor of our English setting, Pam Trent (owner of Oak Street Bistro) has planned an English trifle for dessert," Hanna said.
Tickets are $30. Reservations are required. Tickets may be purchased by calling (501) 339-7401, e-mailing faulkneraarts@yahoo. com, or at one of CDT's ticket outlets - Oak Street Bistro and Kordsmeier Furniture. Group discounts are available by phone or e-mail only.
Conway Dinner Theater will continue its "Dickens of a Season" with A Christmas Carol in December.
River Valley Ozark, Pages 137, 148 on 07/26/2009