Review: OLIVER at Ashland Productions
This production runs now through May 17, 2026
There’s something comforting about Oliver!. Maybe it’s the music, maybe it’s the story, or maybe it’s just how easily the show pulls you into its world. Whatever the reason, Ashland Productions’ production of the classic musical ends up being a genuinely enjoyable evening with a lot of heart behind it.
This production features two separate youth casts rotating performances, and the performance attended for this review featured the “Consider Yourself Cast.” The young performers brought great energy to the stage and helped give the production a lively, authentic feel throughout the evening.
The show wastes no time bringing the audience into the streets of Victorian London. From the opening number, the cast comes in with strong energy, and that momentum carries through the entire production. Big ensemble numbers like “Food, Glorious Food” and “Consider Yourself” are especially fun to watch, with the cast clearly enjoying themselves onstage.
Danny Barton does a nice job leading the show as Oliver, bringing a sweetness and sincerity to the role that really works. Oliver can sometimes get overshadowed by the larger supporting characters, but that never happens here.
As Fagin, Will Sutherland finds a really good balance between the comedy and the more emotional side of the character. The performance feels natural and never overplayed, which makes some of Fagin’s quieter moments stand out even more.
One of the biggest highlights of the night comes from Maria Gisselquist Fry as Nancy. Their performance brings a lot of warmth to the production, and “As Long As He Needs Me” was easily one of the strongest moments in the show.
Joe Mogren plays Bill Sikes with the right amount of intensity and menace, creating a strong contrast to the lighter moments throughout the musical. Dean Thronson is also a standout as the Artful Dodger, bringing confidence, charisma, and a lot of fun energy to the role. Meanwhile, Patrick Mogren gives Mr. Brownlow a genuine kindness that helps ground the story emotionally.
The production itself is nicely put together. The set and costumes do a good job creating the world of the show without feeling overly complicated, and the orchestra sounds great throughout the evening. Everything works together well without any one element trying to overpower the others.
What makes this production work most is that it feels sincere. The cast never treats the material like it’s just a big classic musical everyone already knows. There’s real effort put into the storytelling and relationships, which makes the emotional moments hit harder.
Overall, Ashland Productions delivers a strong and entertaining production of Oliver! that captures both the fun and heart of the musical. Whether you’ve loved the show for years or are seeing it for the first time, there’s a lot here to enjoy.
For more ticket and show information, please click the ticket link button below.
All photos are courtesy of Ashland Productions
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