The Ups and Downs of ‘Oliver!’

California Youth Theatre’s big, ambitious production of Lionel Bart’s “Oliver!,” at Pan Pacific Park, presented by Plaza Entertainment, had its ups and downs at last weekend’s gala opening.

Among the downs: a sound system that crackled and faded in and out for a time and unwieldy set changes.

It was also evident that many in the student cast--ages 9 to adult--were concentrating mightily on getting physically from point A to point B; it seems that the specially constructed outdoor stage had only been finished days before.

The ups, however, include the show’s outstanding Oliver, 11-year-old Jordan Lamoureux. Slight and graceful, he looks the part; more important, he speaks well, and his pure, expressive vocals lend real poignancy to two of the show’s memorable songs, “Where Is Love?” and “Who Will Buy?” The latter is highlighted, too, by ensemble members Karen Cruz, Robin DeLeon and Ai Ogasawara as street vendors.

Confident, full-voiced Amy Zanetto, a twentysomething who’s obviously no stranger to the musical stage, is a standout too, as passionate, doomed Nancy. Others who bring a special zest to their roles are high school senior Thomas Sebenius, surprisingly mature and comically deft as workhouse humbug Mr. Bumble, and Gib Wallis, a satisfyingly menacing Bill Sikes.

Brian Caspe’s Fagin is a downright hoot. Caspe, an experienced adult actor, claims the role with panache and enlivens every scene he’s in. He’s a pleasure to watch in “You’ve Got to Pick a Pocket or Two,” with nicely timed participation by ensemble members as his gang of child thieves, and he notably performs the long solo “Reviewing the Situation” with outstanding solo accompaniment by Anna Kostyuchek, principal violinist of the hard-working youth orchestra.

Due to the tentative quality of much of the performance of dialogue and incidental stage business, the show, directed and choreographed by Corky Dominguez, comes across overall more as a song-and-dance revue than a musical play, though.

That’s underscored by long set changes. Designer Tom Giamario’s big, turning set representing Dickensian England, is visually pleasing, but it’s not easy to move for those who don’t have an adult’s size or strength.

The resources made available to the young student actors, however, are impressive, from the new stage and the elaborate, if problematic set, to Fred Perry’s full-fledged lighting, Juli Askew’s costumes and conductor Russell Lawrence Fox’s musical direction.

CYT, the 35-year-old theater arts training program, which has been based at Paramount Studios since 1992, counts among its numerous professional alumni Susan Egan, Disney’s Belle in “Beauty and the Beast,” “ER’s” Anthony Edwards and film actor Eric Stoltz.

* “Oliver!,” Pan Pacific Park, 7600 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, Fridays through Sundays, 7:30 p.m. through Aug. 16. $7.50, $10 and $15. Running time: 2 hours. (323) 956-2503.