Olivia. A 'Twist' in the Tale!

This year’s production by the Dengie Hopes & Dreams Stage Company was ‘Olivia’ by Malcolm Sircom, a tale of a young girl’s trials and tribulations in Victorian London, not too unlike that other unfortunate; Oliver Twist.
Not only  do we meet Fagin and the Artful Dodger, but Eliza Doolittle, Scrooge, George Bernard Shaw plus Sherlock Holmes & Dr. Watson all played with an amazing degree of skill and just the right amount of tongue in cheek humour. Our heroine ‘Olivia’ was a delight and her emotional meeting with her long lost mother towards the end of the show saw more than a few hankies being produced in the audience to wipe away a tear or two.
What was amazing about this year’s show was that it all had to be devised, prepared and produced in just two weeks, yes two weeks! Due to a set of unfortunate circumstances the planned performance of ‘A Decade of Dreams’ could not be staged and a substitute had to be found and found quickly. The shows Musical Director Elizabeth Holliday found the ideal piece in ‘Olivia’. With its catchy tunes and fast moving dialogue, it was the ideal choice. And along with the Artistic Director Heidi Merriam they worked wonders to produce a show of such a high standard.
Everybody involved with this show deserves a round of applause, the costumes, the music, the sets sounds and lighting all played their part in bringing Victorian London to the heart of The Dengie. Here’s hoping you all carry on dreaming, I look forward to next years show.

Tom Cooper