“oliver!” 1996 directed by sam mendes london palladium

reviewer neil smith theatre

“even if you have to pick a pocket or two, get hold of a ticket to see jim dale’s triumphant return to the west end stage after too many years on the other side of the atlantic. dale has inherited the part of fagin and this production has unquestionably leapt in stature as a consequence. it was jim dale’s show, and for once the standing ovation – the sine qua non of most first night’s – actually felt genuine.”

reviewer jack tinker daily mail

“lionel bart’s spirited musical re-telling of dickens’s favorite weepie is given a classy fresh production by cameron mackintosh. as my colleague shaun usher has already eulogized, what a 24-carat asset jim dale is to the show. his rueful fagin is a masterpiece – a feast of theatricality.”

reviewer matt wolf variety

“jim dale is london’s new fagin, and at last the lionel bart revival has the fizzy vaudevillian star turn it badly needs. entering the production 45 minutes in, dale immediately fills the palladium stage with time-honored shtick – his hands revolving like so many pinwheels – and some useful pathos as well.”

reporter robert ross cor magazine

“jim dale is still wowing the west end audience as the definitive fagin in lionel bart’s oliver! a simply stunning piece of work , it ranks as one of the most impressive musical performances i have ever seen.”