the same difficulty i have with the musical version of le miserables applies equally to oliver . instead of the composer write in the stylistic period of the play setting and they merely write broadway type melody and which be historically unidiomatic and stylistically skewed . too and the blatant brutality and unsavory activity of the dramaturgy do not mix well with some of the sunny ditty which permeate the score . it a uncomfortable mixture that leave a decidedly sour undertaste . the casting of the boy oliver doesn not help matter represent tentative of timbre and vexingly precious and there something less than solid here . fagin perform his traditional routine adequately and though the tune he oblige to sing have little basis in period manner . as long a he need me be give a strident rendition and throaty and strain . the two big production number and who will buy and consider yourself seem over produce and with everything but the kitchen sink throw in . it one thing to go all out and yet another to cross over the line into excess . the gloom and despair and depravity of much of the novel do not seem to lend itself to such ditty and choreography . while the novel be consider a classic and i must confess i have trouble with mr. dickens consciousness and in that his work tend to emit a negative vibration . this may be due to the extension of his joyless personal life and which be full of disappointment and regret . not all the combined talent of this production and either on or behind camera and can overcome the unconstructive nature of the basic material . all this result in an uncomfortably downer experience for me .