LIONEL Bart’s musical has been going the rounds for so many years that it’s hard to remember when it was not part of the musical scene.

This is Weymouth Operatic Society’s third production of the show.

The Dickensian plot of the orphaned workhouse boy who is sold to an undertaker before being groomed to be a pickpocket, is full of tuneful melodies, a strong storyline and great characters, making it perfect family entertainment right from the opening chorus of Food, Glorious Food to the rousing finale.

Two boys are alternating in the key juvenile roles, namely Toby Leigh and Luke Strong as Oliver and Joseph Watters and Josh Brunell as the Artful Dodger who do a grand job depicting resourceful lads growing up the hard way on the streets of London.

A particularly fine adult cast is headed by Paul Brewster as a wonderfully rich and comic Fagin while Karen Pankhurst is in splendid voice as the feisty Nancy whose rendering of As Long As He Needs Me is an emotional treasure.

With a suitably sinister John Mullins in the role of Bill Sykes, the mood is appropriately lightened by the excellent double-act of Geoff King as the henpecked Mr Bumble and his side-kick Claire Bool as the ghastly Widow Corney.

Organising a cast of around 60 players on the stage presents a stern challenge for anyone and special tribute should be paid to Julie Storey for her inspirational directing and choreography of the large team of youngsters and adults not to mention the cute English bull terrier called Betty.

This whole evening bounces along at a terrific pace, helped in no small measure by a first rate orchestra under the baton of Matthew Reed who is fortunate to have such talented musicians in his care.

Julia McFarlane’s solo violin in Fagin’s soliloquy Reviewing the Situation is just one highlight of a memorable orchestral accompaniment that takes the production to new heights.

Strong performances by Anna-Maria Geare and Beth Rose and many others all help to create a lively piece of theatre that never flags and if the final scene loses its way a bit, the overall production is just about as good as any amateur company is ever likely to get.

The production continues for the rest of the week with a matinee on Saturday.