The London fog enveloped audience members as they entered the theater. Immediately, the show’s grimy sets and sneaky character portrayals brought the dark world of “Oliver Twist” to life.

“Oliver Twist,” the 9th-grade musical, ran from Oct. 15 through Oct 18th in the 22 Tappan Theater. Based on the classic Charles Dickens novel, the musical follows a poor orphan named Oliver (Freshman Ivy Forsyth) through his rough upbringing. As Oliver tries to make a name for himself after being given away, he is guided by the amazing narration of an older version of himself (Freshman Scout Gieseke).

The show begins with Gieseke narrating his upbringing. The first of the songs was the iconic number “Food, Glorious Food,” which captivated instantly with pristine voices from the ensemble of workhouse children. Their synchronized cries and the students’ acting drew the audience into Oliver’s world of poverty and longing.

Not only was the acting on point, but the choreography, costumes, and set design were something out of Broadway. The dance moves and choreography led by sophomore Dance Team captain Char Lee were immediately on display in the first song, but flourished by the third song, “You’ve Got to Pick a Pocket or Two,” which had better choreography than some professional shows I have seen previously.

Visually, the production transported me straight into 19th-century London as soon as I set foot in the theatre. The team, led by freshman Meg Rudolph and costume design Annabelle McDonald-Imbera, created a world that felt both grimy and alive. The set is complete with a cracked rope bridge and a staircase with a wooden stair floor. The customers did very well with accurate workhouse costumes and old-timey British coats.

Freshman Josiah Riggs stood out as the antagonist Bill Sikes, who was a grumpy old man who took Oliver and his friends in and stole the show with his booming voice and seemingly cinema-style acting. Riggs is the final part that made “Oliver Twist” one of the more enjoyable plays I’ve seen.

What made “Oliver Twist” such a success was how clear it was that both the cast and the audience were having fun from the high-energy and well-choreographed songs, even to the heartfelt moments of hope and surprise ending. The production captured not only the dark side of London but also the resilience of those who dare to dream of something better.