Review – Oliver! 2004

“Operatic society’s Oliver! a real family affair”

By:	Jeanine Soodeen, Victoria News
For:	Oliver!
Who:	The Victoria Operatic Society
Where:	McPherson Playhouse
When:	November 2004

Playing the lead role in Victoria Operatic Society’s production of Oliver! hasn’t fazed Leo Marchand.

It’s been fun for the Grade 7 South Park student, who at age 12, is practically a Victoria stage Veteran.

“It’s great. It’s really fun,” said Leo, who also does his own stunts in the show. “The whole thing is really fun. It’s hard to pick one part I like the most. I like the last scene, where I climb up scaffolding.”

The musical directed by Roger Carr with music direction by Donna Williams, opens tonight at the McPherson Playhouse, bringing to life some of Charles Dickens’ most popular characters. The story follows the orphan Oliver who escapes to London from a workhouse and is taken in by a gang of apprentice pickpockets who work for Fagan (Chris Moss).

“He’s pretty innocent. He hasn’t been raised really well. But he isn’t completely innocent,” Leo said.

Leo sang in the children’s chorus in VOS’s Joseph, appeared in Kaleidoscope’s Best Christmas Pageant Ever and The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and played Gavroche in Mt. Douglas high school production of Les Miserables. He also performs with VIVA Choir and his school choir.

He is just the latest in a line of performers in his family. His brother, a UVic School of Music grad and now a professional musician, played Oliver in a school production. His father, musician Greg Marchand, sings in the adult chorus and has a minor role as a knife grinder in the current production. Leo’s sister is a singer and his mother and father both taught music.

“It’s great. We can learn from each other, help each other,” Leo said.

“It’s quite incredible,” his dad said. “I am in awe of what he has been doing. It’s a real treat to see the progress of his character. We’re both really enjoying it…He’s been in a lot of shows. It’s quite amazing. It seems to be his element.”

Leo and Greg are one of two father-son dous appearing in Oliver! the musical features Chris Moss as Fagan, and his son Gary Moss as Bill Sykes. Karen Lee Pickett is Nancy.

All ages can see Oliver! at the McPherson Playhouse, Nov. 19-20 and 25-27 at 8 p.m. and Nov. 28 at 2 p.m. Tickets available at McPherson box offices or by calling 386-6121.