Napa’s Lucky Penny Community Arts Center opened just about ten years ago with a production of Lionel Barts’ classic musical Oliver! The musical adaptation of Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist has long been an audience favorite since its debut at a Southwest London theater in 1960.

It’s a big show, in many ways, and not the lightest of entertainments (I mean, a woman is bludgeoned to death in the second act), but its requirement for a large cast of young performers makes it an ideal choice for community theaters as all those kids ensure ticket sales to their parents, grandparents, neighbors, and friends. Lucky Penny’s remount runs though Dec. 22.

The show opens at a London workhouse for orphans with the glorious “Food, Glorious Food” as we’re introduced to the young Oliver Twist (Kiernan Upton Albright). A bit of a rapscallion at the workhouse, he’s soon sold off to the Sowerberrys (Andrew Moore, LC Arisman), the proprietors of a funeral home. He runs away and runs into the Artful Dodger (Leo Tudiscso, alternating with Luke Lawrence) who introduces him to Fagin (Dennis O’Brien), the leader of a group of young “entrepreneurs”.

Pinched on his first outing with the boys, he ends up in the home of Mr. Bronlow (Jeff Arriaga). Concerned that he might give up their location and the nature of their “business”, the villainous Bill Sykes (Skyler King) demands he be retrieved. The maternal Nancy (Sarah Lundstrum), paramour to Bill, agrees to assist, but soon regrets it.

The large scale of the show, and the large cast (equal to 25% of the house size), makes it a challenging choice for a 99-seat theater. The closeness of the audience makes technical errors like a malfunctioning parasol, a flapping body mic, and a molting beard more distracting. Chase scenes are compacted which removes tension. Characters who should be played BIG are done with restraint.

Some of these are offset by the energy and talent of the cast. Upton Albright is a perfect, angelic-voiced Oliver and Tudisco makes for a playful Dodger. Among the adults, Lundstrom stood out with a nuanced performance as the doomed Nancy. Director Stacy Arriaga’s youthful ensemble acquits itself quite nicely in several of the Alex Gomez-choreographed numbers.

Musical tracks are utilized which subtracts from some of the show’s majesty, but is understandable considering the limitation of space. You still get to hear the vocals of such classics as “Consider Yourself”, “As Long as He Needs Me”, “Reviewing the Situation”, and a perfectly lovely rendition of “Who Will Buy?” delivered well.

Lucky Penny’s Oliver! may not have scope, but it certainly has heart.

‘Oliver!’ runs through December 22 at the Lucky Penny Community Arts Center. 1758 Industrial Way, Napa. Thurs, 7pm; Fri–Sat, 8pm; Sun, 2pm. $24–$47. 707.266.6305. luckypennynapa.com

Photos by Kurt Gonsalves

This review originally appeared in an edited version in the North Bay Bohemian.