Oliver!

The great British musical Oliver! has entertained the world for over 50 years and become one of the West End’s most loved shows, thanks to numerous revivals with first rate performers. The show is also performed by various school and youth groups all over the country each year. Written by Lionel Bart the show is based on the novel by Charles Dickens and follows the plucky Oliver Twist in his plight around Victorian London.

Oliver!

Lionel Bart

Lionel Bart

Lionel Bart

'Oliver Twist' by Charles Dickens

David Merrick & Donald Albery

Peter Cole

Productions

Original London Production

New Theatre (now the Noel Coward) - Opened 30 Jun 1960, closed 1 Jan 1970, 2618 performances

Cast: Ron Moody, Georgia Brown, Danny Sewell

Original Broadway Production

Imperial Theatre - Opened 6 Jan 1963, closed 1 Jan 1970

First London Revival

Albery Theatre (now Noel Coward) - Opened 6 Jan 1977, closed 1 Jan 1970

Second London Revival

Aldwych Theatre - Opened 1 Dec 1983, closed 1 Jan 1970

Cast: Ron Moody, Shani Wallis, Patti LuPone,

Broadway Revival

Mark Hellinger Theatre - Opened 29 Apr 1984, closed 9 May 1984

Cast: Ron Moody, Patti LuPone,

1994 London Revival

London Palladium - Opened 8 Dec 1994, closed 21 Feb 1998

Cast: Jonathan Pryce, Sally Dexter

Oliver Drury Lane 2009

2009 London Revival

Theatre Royal Drury Lane - Opened 14 Feb 2009, closed 8 Jan 2011

Cast: Rowan Aitkinson, Jodie Prenger (winner of BBC’s I’d Do Anything – search for the stars of Oliver!)



What was your favourite production? Add your thoughts in the comments box

Synopsis

Twitter Synopsis:

Greedy orphan runs away and becomes a pickpocket under watchful eye of criminal mastermind. Buxom girlfriend’s defense leads to murder.  

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The show opens in a workhouse, where boys line up to be fed their daily portion of gruel, wishing for something more, “Food, Glorious Food”. As Mr Bumble and Widow Corney teach the boys to be thankful to God, young Oliver Twist is dared to ask for more food. Bumble is shocked by the request (“Oliver”) and decides that the boy is trouble and needs to leave the workhouse, selling him to an undertaker, “Boy For Sale”, not before suggesting his amorous advances to Widow Corney, “I Shall Scream”. At the undertakers parlour he is warned against behaving badly as Mr Sowerberry tells him “That’s Your Funeral”. Alone, Oliver wishes for a happier life and sings “Where is Love?”. He decides to run away to London, and dashes off in the middle of the night.

As he arrives in bustling Victorian London he is greeted by the Artful Dodger, a boy his age who earns a living by pick pocketing on the streets. Dodger introduces him to his way of life and says ‘Consider Yourself’ one of the gang. He leads him back to see Fagin, the crook who runs the thieves kitchen. In Fagin’s den, Oliver is surprised at the number of boys working for him. They teach him that “You’ve Got to Pick a Pocket or Two” in order to survive. Whilst Fagin looks after the boys, they are all under the watchful eye of sinister robber Bill Skyes, whose girlfriend Nancy is sympathetic to the gang. Nancy tells Oliver that “It’s a Fine Life” if he is happy to have nothing. The boys are playful towards Nancy and her friend Bet, telling them that “I’d Do Anything”. Fagin has enough of their games and send them out to the streets to pick pocket, getting them to bring back whatever they can find, but “Be Back Soon”. Whilst on the rob Oliver gets into trouble when he makes a failed attempt at trying to take Mr Brownlow’s wallet. He tries to escape but is captured by the police.

Act II opens at the Three Cripples Arms where Nancy works as a barmaid. She sings an old drinking song “Oom pa Pa” to entertain the guests. Bill Sykes arrives and reminds everyone why they should fear “My Name”. He is furious to hear that Oliver has been captured and concocts a plan with Fagin and Dodger to get him back. Alone, Nancy admits that she will do anything for Bill, despite his violent nature “As Long As He Needs Me”.

Over at Mr Brownlow’s house in Bloomsbury, Oliver is being cared for by the Doctor and Housemaid who sings “Where is Love? (reprise)” to him. They discuss his condition and send him out to run an errand. Oliver is taken in by the beauty of Bloomsbury that opens out in front of him, “Who Will Buy?” As the crowds disperse, Nancy appears to try and get Oliver back and they kidnap him, taking him back to the thieves kitchen. Nancy argues with Bill about the plan (“It’s a Fine Life Reprise”) and he beats her. Fagin questions his future and whether or not he should continue life as a thief, (“Reviewing the Situation”).

Over at the workhouse, Mr Bumble and the now married Mrs Bumble discover a locket that belonged to Oliver’s mother Agnes. They realise that he may have wealthy connections, and journey to find the boy (“Oliver (reprise)”. Mr Brownlow throws the pair out, but recognises the picture in the locket to be his daughter, meaning that Oliver is in fact his grandson. He swears to find the boy and look after him for good. Nancy visits Mr Brownlow and tells him she will bring Oliver to him that night on London Bridge. She knows she is going against Bill’s wishes, but wants to help the boy have a better life, (“As Long As He Needs Me Reprise”). Bill catches wind of the plan and rushes to London Bridge to meet Nancy and Oliver. He intercepts the meeting and beats Nancy to death as she struggles. A chase ensues across London until the police track Bill down and shoot him. Oliver is reunited with his grandfather and they both mourn the death of Nancy. Fagin and Dodger decide it is time to move on with their life of crime (“Reviewing the Situation Reprise”) as the curtain falls.

Songs

Act I

  • Overture
  • Food, Glorious Food
  • Oliver!
  • Widow Corney’s Parlour
  • I Shall Scream
  • Boy For Sale
  • That’s Your Funeral
  • Where Is Love
  • Oliver’s Escape
  • Consider Yourself
  • You’ve Got To Pick-A-Pocket Or Two
  • Rum Tum Tum
  • It’s A Fine Life
  • I’d Do Anything
  • Be Back Soon
  • The Robbery
Act II
  • Oom-Pah-Pah
  • My Name!
  • As Long As He Needs Me,
  • Where Is Love (Reprise)
  • Who Will Buy
  • It’s A Fine Life (Reprise)
  • Reviewing The Situation
  • Oliver! (Reprise)
  • As Long As He Needs Me (Reprise)
  • London Bridge
  • Reviewing The Situation (Reprise)
Awards

1963 Tony Awards: Best Performance, Best Score, Best MD, Best Scenic Design

1997 Olivier Award: Best Actor (Robert Lindsay)

Licensing

UK: Music Scope UK

USA: Tams-Witmark

 

1 thought on “Oliver!

  1. Paul Brooke

    Saw this Oliver production by AAT in 2005 during our now annual visit from UK and was taken by the professionalism of the performances across the board. However, Conrad stole our hearts in his solo of “Where is Love”. This would be our choice to add to the list of possible future productions. Ann and Paul Brooke.

    Reply

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