If you’ve ever found yourself singing Food, Glorious Food – or even Consider Yourself or I’d Do Anything – then chances are you’ve seen either the Broadway show or the film Oliver! I’ve only seen the film, and I’ve liked it. While there were a great number of actors/singers who portrayed the title role of Oliver and the pivotal role of Nancy, there were (so far) only two who have played them in the film version – which I might add won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1969. I was understandably pretty psyched (not to be confused with Sikes) to find that these very actors would be appearing at the Hollywood Show on April 20, 2013.
Shani Wallis was the actress who has played Nancy. She had had a long list of theatre credits, but her film resume wasn’t too long when she starred in Oliver! But one of her roles had been quite noteworthy: a cabaret dancer in Charlie Chaplin’s A King in New York. She’d later go on to do some TV work, as well as being the voice of Lady Mouse in Disney’s The Great Mouse Detective.
Mark Lester was the talented boy portraying Oliver Twist. Most of his work was in British and European film with his most notable role outside of Oliver! being in Black Beauty. He retired from acting at age 19 and later opened an acupuncture clinic. He was a good friend of Michael Jackson’s and has claimed that it is possible that he is the biological father of Jackson’s kids. I didn’t mention that to him though.
Both of these performers were pretty nice, even if slightly pricy. I shelled out the $25 per signature and $5 each for a photo with them. They were both nice enough to let Carolyn get a free picture with them as well, but I swore I heard them singing Cash, Glorious, Cash as I walked away.
Celebrity encounters from the Spring 2013 Hollywood Show will continue…
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