THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, February 21, 1995 TAG: 9502210024
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MAL VINCENT, ENTERTAINMENT WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 72 lines
``CONSIDER Yourself.'' ``Food, Glorious Food.'' ``Who Will Buy?''
``Oliver!'' is a tuneful enough outing, a hit first in London, then on Broadway. The 1968 movie won six Oscars, including best picture.
Today, a bus bearing the cast of the musical pulls into Norfolk for a weeklong run at Chrysler Hall.
A musical crisscrossing the American countryside was far beyond the dark social concerns of Charles Dickens when his novel was published in 1838. But he did write about orphans, and that means kids - in this cast, seven boys and two girls ages 12 to 14.
In fact, ``Oliver!'' is a traveling schoolhouse.
Felice Izzo, one of two tutors for the company, sounds a good deal calmer, and sane, than would seem likely. ``We have a good time on the road, in addition to meeting all the requirements of the curriculum,'' she said.
Izzo works for On Location Education, an outfit organized in 1982 to meet the increasing needs of film, stage and TV productions. Last year, she was in snowy New England to teach two children appearing in the Paul Newman movie ``Nobody's Fool.'' On the road, Izzo and fellow tutor Lisa Mattia are as much chaperones as teachers.
``The kids never go outside the hotel without someone with them,'' said Izzo, who teaches social studies, English and health. ``They're allowed the run of the hotel, but we have to know where they are. They love hanging out in game rooms at hotels or in their rooms.
``There are advantages and disadvantages in the system. We can't do science experiments they might do in a classroom, but . . . we have great class trips. In Washington, we went to Ford's Theater. In Baltimore, we went to the aquarium. We're always on the lookout for meaningful and worthwhile field trips that let them take advantage of the traveling experience.''
School is in session three to five hours a day, depending on whether there is a matinee. The classroom is usually a convention hall in the hotel where the cast is staying.
``We have quiet hour on the bus,'' Izzo said, sighing. ``Then, sometimes, we have lessons on the bus. It's all adaptable, but the real demand is that we keep up with the curriculum in their regular school so that when they return, they'll fit right into the curriculum there.''
One can only envision pandemonium: A bus leaving for the next town and two kids are missing; puppy-love crushes among the cast. If so, Izzo isn't telling.
``It's surprisingly orderly,'' she said. ``These, after all, are professional kids. They want to be in show business, and they know that they have to be responsible. If they aren't, there are hundreds of other kids who would like to have this experience.''
Excuses about homework don't fly, either. ``I know all the lies and, besides, it isn't necessary,'' Izzo said. ``I know when a show ran late or when we were late leaving. I'm more, I think, like their older sister than a real driving discipline force. They know what has to be done.
``You see, the show is all a group thing. We put it on together. These are still just kids. Some of (them) love having smaller parts because they'll have more time of their own.''
Graham Bowen, 12, plays Oliver. One of a family of six, he's been in commercials, plays and movies, but this is his first tour. It began last year at Harrah's Casino in Atlantic City and wraps up Oct. 31. He's planning on returning to school, and home, in Ohio - if he doesn't get another job.
``I'd like to audition for everything,'' said Bowen, who speaks fluent French, is an honor student and loves baseball. ``They tell me there will be an awkward age, but I hope not.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Graham Bowen, 12, who plays Oliver, is hoisted to the shoulders of
other cast members in ``Oliver,'' which opens tonight in Norfolk.
by CNB