OLIVER! at Salisbury City Hall impressed before it even started, with a fairly spare but nonetheless effective set.

It only got more impressive as it went on.

With a mixed cast of Musical Theatre Salisbury (MTS) stalwarts and newcomers – which, as it was Oliver!, included a lot of young children – this was a great show.

Eleven-year-old Cameron Hawer was suitably winsome in the title role, and Will Laing, who is just a year older, was wonderfully cheeky and chirpy as the Artful Dodger.

The adults shone as well, with Mike Bolton and Kate Sheppard putting in ghoulish turns as undertaker Mr Sowerberry and his wife, and David Irving as the dastardly Bill Sykes proving villainous enough to draw boos from the audience when his turn came to take a bow at the end.

Dave Simmons as Mr Bumble put on some padding, grew some impressive mutton-chops and threw himself into the part, delivering his “The law is an ass!” line, and all the others as well, with gusto.

The roles that need to be the strongest in Oliver! are Fagin and Nancy and they were the ones that lifted this production the most. Laura Simmons really excelled herself as Nancy, delivering a performance that would not have looked out of place on a professional stage. And Robert Preedy as Fagin was a light-fingered, crafty, loveable delight.

With an able supporting cast and a chorus who didn’t put a foot wrong, the dedication and hard work that went into this production was obvious.

Well done to all involved – we considered ourselves thoroughly entertained.

Morwenna Blake

* Oliver! is at the City Hall until November 30. Tickets at cityhallsalisbury.co.uk or on 01722 434434.