It's always fun to see local houses roll out Oliver! for the holidays, and Lakewood Playhouse's production is as fun as any - if you don't find yourself Dickens-ed out by the half-dozen versions of A Christmas Carol floating around the South Sound. Oliver! is a big show. It doesn't require epic production values or huge dance numbers - just bigness. Big cast, big sound. Take, for example, the iconic opening number, "Food, Glorious Food."  No matter how professional your production, or skilled your talent, it's difficult to find two-dozen children who can tromp around grumpily and sing beautiful harmonies at the same time. So instead, the song's design lends itself to a controlled cacophony. These are semi-starved, unhappy orphans, grumpy over gruel, making a great, enthusiastic noise. Thursday, Dec. 1 catch the "Pay What You Can" performance of the show, which runs through Dec. 23.

To read Joe Izenman's full review, click here.

[Lakewood Playhouse, through Dec. 23, 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday, $22-$28, 5729 Lakewood Towne Center Blvd. SW, 253.588.0042]