‘OLIVER!’ Soars with Humanity and Heart!

In the fervent melee at the opening of Marriott Theatre’s splendid new revival of Lionel Bart’s “Oliver!” something truly wonderful pops up out of nowhere.

That would be the pint-sized powerhouse Kai Edgar, an 8-year-old heartbreaker who barely looks eye-to-eye to a yardstick. Young Edgar is measured here by a crystal-clear vocal range and a captivating presence—in the title role that he shares with Kayden Koshelev—surrounded by a colossal company jam-packed with talent. Under the direction of Nick Bowling with choreographer Brenda Didier and music director Ryan T. Nelson, Marriott’s ”Oliver!” soars with humanity and heart!