Theatre Works' production of "Oliver!" brings Dickens' London to life with a cast of 31, including nine orphans who come out fifteen minutes before curtain to dust and clean the auditorium seats — one of the cleverest pre-show touches this reviewer has encountered. The cast comes close to sounding like the Broadway album. Director and musical director Stuart Britton is to be commended for his hard work and talent in making this production musically seamless. Choreographer Lisa Forsgard ably moved 31 people on a very small playing space. Stage manager Richard Guilbault and co-producers Paul Adam and Stacy Harris round out the production team. Costumes — authentic-looking throughout — are by Penny L'Esperance, Lisa Forsgard, and Karen Stonis.

Matthew Simpson, a 13-year-old from North Attleboro, plays Oliver with heartwarming innocence — his "Where Is Love?" and "Who Will Buy?" are delivered with just the right emotional simplicity. Tom Iafrata, a 17-year-old student at Cranston High School West, plays the Artful Dodger with the full range of expressions and physicality the role demands; his "Consider Yourself" with the ensemble is especially entertaining. Greg Bonin plays the dark and villainous Bill Sykes with a top-rate, sinister performance — his "My Name" is powerful. Kevin Cottam, who hails from Salt Lake City where he performed at the Hale Center Theater, gives a great portrayal of Mr. Bumble, with a warm and sad "Boy for Sale" and hilarious comic romps with Widow Corney. Jennifer DeCristofano plays Nancy with strong acting and a very good accent, and her "Oom-Pah-Pah" with the chorus is a crowd-pleaser. The orphans — not one going out of character, not a moment of fooling around — are a credit to the genius of this production. So for a great performance, this is the show you should not miss.

Theatre Works' production of "Greetings!" is a hidden gem of a Christmas show — a warm, cheery, funny, and surprisingly moving holiday alternative. Andy Gorski brings his Jewish atheist fiancée Randi Stein home to meet his sweet Catholic mother Emily, his grouchy Catholic father Phil, and his severely disabled brother Mickey, who only says "Wow" and "Oh Boy." Chaos ensues until Mickey is inhabited by the spirit Lucius, who brings the family together and heals old wounds. Director Bert Cayer Jr. brings the characters from arguing to understanding realistically while giving the audience many funny and heartwarming moments throughout. Stage manager Maureen Mann and assistant Neil Hunt do superb work in the scene changes. Set design and special effects are by Donald Therrien; lighting by Steven Pacheco.

Fred Fortier III as Mickey Gorski is just magnificent — staying in character throughout the entire show, maintaining the gestures and tics of a severely disabled person with complete discipline, then switching in a split second to the British-accented spirit Lucius and back again. His transformation is "the funniest and most astounding moment in the show." Scott McKeating does a wonderful job as the older brother Andy, handling both the comic and dramatic scenes with ease. Erin O'Donnell makes her stage debut as Randi with a gorgeous stage presence — standing up to the father, showing warmth toward Andy, and ultimately delivering a convincing transformation into a softer, more forgiving character. Katherine Sheridan plays the warmhearted mother with great warmth and strength, including a hilarious fainting scene at the end of Act One. Maurice Cournoyer plays the cranky father with dynamic acting ability and an aging makeup that completely convinces — his transformation into a warmer, more caring father at the show's end is the icing on the cake. So for a beautiful, heartwarming, and funny holiday show, be sure to catch "Greetings!"

"Into the Woods" opened at Theatre Works with 18 multi-talented actors and singers tackling one of Stephen Sondheim's most demanding scores — music that takes months to learn and even longer to make sound natural. After five months of rehearsal under musical director Stuart Britton, this cast nails Sondheim's difficult key changes and delivers that rare "ensemble feeling" that makes a show tight-knit from the first number to the last. Director Paul Adam deserves real recognition for his attention to detail and steady directorial hand throughout. Costumes are by David Cabral; lighting design by Steven Pacheco was, in this reviewer's opinion, the best lighting seen yet at Theatre Works — and the handmade trees in the set are worth a closer look if they'll let you near them.

Standout performances are Steven Pacheco as the Baker and Louise Tetreault as his Wife — both excel in every one of their numbers, with Pacheco's "No More" a particular highlight and Tetreault's "Moments in the Woods" genuinely heartwarming. Jennifer DiCristofano is incredible as the Witch, hitting every gesture and landing every song right on target. Matt Simpson as Jack has grown up enormously since playing the title role in "Oliver!" — a real surprise to see. Young Rebecca Kubaska as Little Red Riding Hood is excellent, with professional acting and well-delivered musical numbers. Gregory Bonin pulls double duty as the Wolf and as Cinderella's Prince, with a rendition of "Agony" that, paired with Steven Slate as Rapunzel's Prince, makes for a dynamic comic duo — the audience gets to hear "Agony" again in Act Two, and it's just as funny the second time. Alicia Daigle's Cinderella gets better and better as the show progresses; her "No One Is Alone," counterpointing Jack and the Baker's scene, is one of the best moments of the night both visually and vocally. Mark Anderson plays the Narrator and the Mysterious Man with his usual sure hand. Minor roles are played to perfection by Joseph Casey, Eileen Delaney, Danielle DeRotto, Chris Kibbe, Siobhan Kibbe, Fran Laflamme, Eileen Nahabedian, and Amy St. Pierre — each adding real depth to the production in both acting and singing. The entire company deserves flowers and applause. Do yourself a favor and visit Theatre Works for "Into the Woods" before it closes.