In Oliver Street fire, Pets die

Fort Wayne firefighters battled a house fire Thursday night at 2522 Oliver St.
No one was home at the time, but several pets were removed. Two of them died.
Flames heavily damaged the kitchen and attic. The entire structure had heavy smoke damage.
Officials determined unattended cooking to be the cause, and the fire was ruled accidental. No firefighters were injured.

As Apache Cat pounces for Oliver, Hong Kong trip looms

MELBOURNE'S champion sprinter Apache Cat all but booked himself another trip to Hong Kong for the international meeting in December after he pounced late to claim yesterday's Schweppes Stakes at Moonee Valley.
The Greg Eurell trained star gained a rails run in the straight under the guidance of top jockey Damien Oliver to run down stablemate Mic Mac ($6.50) and score by a short neck.
''They made him earn it today,'' Eurell said of Apache Cat [$3.40], which contested the Hong Kong Sprint last year and came in third behind Inspiration.
''It's a big thrill, very rewarding to get him here and winning given he isn't getting any younger. (Age) is starting to catch up with him.''
Apache Cat is now a seven year old but Eurell said he was going ''as good as ever'' and he would miss the pair 1 Patinack Farm Classic to instead head to Hong Kong, where the plan is to run in the International Sprint Trial at Sha Tin on November 22 on the way to a start in the Hong Kong Sprint on December 13.
''The plan is a bit new to us,'' Eurell admitted. ''Last year they didn't have the lead up in Hong Kong open to overseas horses but now it is so I'd say we'd go there. Mic Mac will stay here and go to the Patinack Farm Classic (on November 7 at Flemington) and then he'll go for a spell. He'll be some horse next year.''
Speedster Lucky Secret led early in the Schweppes only to be pressured by the Gai Waterhouse trained Bank Robber ($16), which went to the lead and held on well to finish third.
Eurell said Oliver's ride, when holding his ground behind the lead on the rail and banking on the run coming, was more good management than luck for ''he is one of the best [jockeys] we've seen in Australia, and he'll be the best we'll see in a long time''.
Oliver told Eurell Apache Cat was ''a legend, isn't he'' while adding ''he's a star'' as the Moonee Valley crowd applauded their favourite baldy faced sprinter.
''He is a tough warhorse,'' Eurell said. ''Leading into today he was in very, very good order. And he has come out and defeated a very good field of sprinters. We have to be a bit careful about what we do with these days, there is no hiding the fact that we have to hold him together a bit to get him to the races. But he just keeps coming out and doing it against the best opposition there is on offer.''

Griff Rhys Jones to be the next star ‘Fagin’ in Cameron Mackintosh’s triumphant new producstion of OLIVER! at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane from 14 Dec

Cameron Mackintosh is delighted to announce that award-winning actor Griff Rhys Jones will be the next star after Omid Djalili to play ‘Fagin’ in the triumphant new production of Lionel Bart’s smash hit musical OLIVER! at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane from Monday 14 December 2009 until June 2010.

Cameron Mackintosh said “I’ve wanted to work with Griff for years so I’m delighted that the marvellous role of ‘Fagin’ has tempted him back to the stage this Christmas. Griff is an actor with an amazing array of successful talents, all of which will undoubtedly be poured into his unique and entertaining interpretation of one of Dickens’ most famous and beloved creations. I can’t wait!”

Griff is truly one of Britain’s most loved, versatile and prolific performers. Propelled to stardom in “Not The Nine O’Clock News” and “Alas Smith and Jones”, he won a double Olivier Award for his roles in “Charley’s Aunt” and “An Absolute Turkey”, starred in “Front Page” at the Donmar Warehouse and was an unforgettable Toad in the National Theatre’s “Wind In The Willows”. On TV he did three acclaimed series of “Three Men In A Boat”, (and will shortly be doing a fourth), urged the British public to vote for saving marvellous British buildings in “Restoration” and is currently enjoying huge success on BBC1’s “Rivers With Griff Rhys Jones”. He was last seen on stage in 2001 in “A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum” as part of the Covent Garden Festival. As a producer, he and Mel Smith set up one of Britain’s most successful productions companies, Talkback Productions. He was almost single-handedly responsible for the wonderful restoration of the Hackney Empire.

Jodie Prenger continues her enormous success as ‘Nancy’ and has now extended her run until March next year. In the role of ‘Bill Sikes’, Steve Hartley returns to the part on 15th September having enjoyed a huge success in the original run of OLIVER! at the Palladium in the mid-1990’s.

This production of OLIVER! opened at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane on 14 January to rave reviews with the biggest advance sales of all time for a West End show. The cost of this enormous production was recouped in only 18 weeks and continues to be the highest grossing show in London, playing to packed houses. Featuring a cast and orchestra of over one hundred, the sensational score is full of Lionel Bart’s irresistible songs including Food Glorious Food, Consider Yourself, You've Got to Pick-a-Pocket or Two, I'd Do Anything, Oom Pah Pah, As Long As He Needs Me and many more.

OLIVER! is directed by Rupert Goold, along with co-director and choreographer Matthew Bourne. Production design is by Anthony Ward; lighting design by Paule Constable and sound is by Paul Groothuis, with orchestrations by William D Brohn.

This production is produced in association with the Southbrook Group Limited.
OLIVER! is currently booking through to 27 February 2010. Evening performances are Monday – Saturdays at 7.30pm, with matinees on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 2.30pm. Tickets are priced from £17.50 - £65 and are available from the Theatre Royal Drury Lane Box Office on 44 (0) 207 403 0962 and online at The Online Ticket Shop.