Saline Area Players get Costumes Ready for Oliver!

This weekend, the cast of Saline Area Players’ upcoming production of Lionel Bart’s Oliver! tried on costumes for their show that runs October 20-22. Sara Honsowetz, the board president, and also costumer extraordinaire, pulled together, and sewed costumes, for this cast of over 50 children and adults. Many in the cast have multiple costumes that they wear in order to represent different characters.

Of note, she states that is has been a “real feat” trying to outfit 29 kids in the show in a short time frame during a whirlwind of activity with busy rehearsals. For example, she managed to find 29 white dress shirts which she then stained with tea and coffee in her bathtub. These are used in the workhouse scene. Her favorite character so far to costume has been Mr. Bumble, the pompous beadle of the orphan poorhouse. She states that she made him a mace, had to add all kinds of lace to his costume, fashioned some knickers, and topped it off by spray painting a special hat, taking the whole can of paint. She is always on the lookout for costume pieces and has looked at (mostly thrift) shops as far away as Fenton and Gaylord. Also, in preparation for this show, she has been collecting metal beer steins for the last year that will be used during one of the popular songs from the show, Oom Pah Pah.

Oliver is based on Charles Dickens' OLIVER TWIST. This story set in Victorian England centers around the young orphan boy, Oliver, as he does his best to navigate the dark and gritty London underworld of theft and violence, desperately searching for a home, a family, and most importantly, love. For ticket information, visit www.salineareaplayers.org