Chicago Tribune - Highly Recommended
"...Bowling has some other fine ideas. He gets rid of the stereotyping around Fagin, with its strong whiff of anti-Semitism, casting Bill Brown, whose miser might be less bravura than the Ron Moody-esque hand-rubbing model but thinks and feels and doubts a lot more. Bowling also changes the opening a little, nixing the tired line of orphans headed to grab their gruel from Mr. Bumble (Matthew R. Jones) and Mrs. Corney (Bethany Thomas) in favor of showing us a table filled with bewhiskered fat-cats chomping on roast beasts, only to find a bunch of dreaming orphans coming after them with the determination of Elizabeth Warren parting billionaires from a portion of their stash."
Chicago Sun Times - Somewhat Recommended
"...Still, packing Dickens' doorstop picaresque tale into just over two hours makes for a lot of thinly drawn saints and sinners. As Oliver (Kai Edgar opening night, Kayden Koshelev at alternate performances) goes from Victorian-era England workhouse to servitude for an undertaker to a London gang of child thieves overseen by a veteran pickpocket named Fagin (William Brown), chase scenes start to overtake the character development."
Daily Herald - Recommended
"...Bowling has assembled a great and diverse cast with many vocal powerhouses to enliven the supporting roles. Matthew R. Jones' operatic tenor is impressive as the pompous Mr. Bumble in the song "Boy for Sale," while the growling and commanding Mrs. Corney of Bethany Thomas wows in the shortened "I Shall Scream.""
Chicago Reader - Highly Recommended
"...The Marriott revival, directed by Nick Bowling with music direction by Ryan T. Nelson, is as bright and lively a re-creation of the exploitation of children in mid-19th-century London slums as you could hope for. The ensemble of triple threats is in general first-rate, and contains several brilliant standouts. William Brown's inspired take on the snake Fagin is by turns charming and dangerous, alluring and repellent. And Lucy Godinez, playing the good-hearted prostitute, Nancy, proves again and again she's a singer to be reckoned with: her pipes are strong enough to blow the roof off the house."
Around The Town Chicago - Highly Recommended
"...If you love this musical, you will love it even more! If you do not love this musical, you owe it to yourself to see this production, a sit will change your mind. It is slick, sweet, funny and at 2 hours and 20 minutes with one intermission , a pleasure to experience."
Chicago Theatre Review - Highly Recommended
"...The show is sharp, sung with gusto and creatively choreographed by recent Jeff Award-winner, Brenda Didier. It's filled with color, humor, drama and Lionel Bart's lovely score, sung by a company of accomplished singers (thanks to talented Ryan T. Nelson's musical direction).The show is accompanied by Patti Garwood's full-sounding musical ensemble, hidden away inside the orchestra pit. This family musical is one Dickens of a great production. It's an especially nice change for the holidays, after so many Chicagoland productions of Dickens' "Christmas Carol." But it's a musical that will stay with theatergoers while it welcomes everyone to "consider themselves at home.""
Chicagoland Theater Reviews - Recommended
"..."Oliver!" is a prettified version of Dickens's indictment of the treatment of the poor of early Victorian England. Lionel Bart has converted the novel into what can be called a happy show with a few dramatic moments. So "Oliver!" is what it is, so maybe it's unfair to criticize the musical for not aspiring higher as an artistic endeavor (like "Les Miserables"). Credit the Marriott revival for capturing much of the story's historical ambience and it does well with Lionel Bart's decent but not exceptional score. Most important, the theater has seized on its opportunity to charm the audience with Kai Edgar's stellar performance."
Chicagoland Musical Theatre - Highly Recommended
"...Indeed, this is a production that more than earns its exclamation point. So buy a ticket…several more for the family…sit back…and consider yourselves at home in Lincolnshire this holiday season."
Chicago Theater and Arts - Recommended
"...Marriott Theatre's "Oliver!" is among the best productions of a Charles Dickens-based show that, unlike "A Christmas Carol," has few redeeming factors."
Chicago On Stage - Highly Recommended
"...Even though its dark side is less extreme than you'd expect with abuse, theft, and even murder in its center, this Oliver! is solidly entertaining. Bowling and Marriott have a wonderfully uplifting show that can rival the holiday-themed productions that pop up all over town this time of year. A trip up to Lincolnshire to see this show will make anyone's life just a little bit finer."
PicksInSix - Highly Recommended
",..The strength of Bart’s epic work—he wrote the book, music and lyrics—is in the grand-scale production numbers and soul-searching ballads here brilliantly crafted by Nelson and beautifully staged by Didier in the Marriott’s round configuration. Among the many highlights are Oliver’s acceptance by Dodger and the boys in “Consider Yourself,” the Brown-led “You’ve Got to Pick A Pocket or Two,” and Edgar and company in “Who Will Buy.” Godinez leads three terrific numbers—“It’s A Fine Life,” “I’d Do Anything” and “Oom-Pah-Pah”—and gives the most powerful singular performance of the night in “As Long as He Needs Me.”"
Picture This Post - Recommended
"...This musical is certainly recommended to anyone who loves classic musical theatre performed in a sincere, and delightfully lighthearted manner. Fun for the whole family, you can expect Oliver! to win over your heart."
Chicago Now - Highly Recommended
"...The musical version of this beloved tale, despite the dark overtone, is heartwarming and packed with memorable songs such as "Where Is Love," You've Got to Pick a Pocket or Two" and "Consider Yourself." The group ensembles were excellent and enjoyable to watch, especially with the addition of kids in the opening number, in the orphanage performing "Food, Glorious Food.""
