Performance Dates
Tuesday 13 to Saturday 17 March 2012
Performance Times
Tuesday to Saturday evenings at 7.30pm
Saturday matinee at 2.30pm
Running Time
Approx. 2 hours 30 minutes with one interval
Ticket Prices
Tuesday to Thursday evenings Adults £12 | Concessions £9
Friday evening, Meet the Cast with a cheese & wine reception after the performance, ALL Tickets £14
Saturday matinee ALL Tickets £9 *SOLD OUT*
Saturday evening ALL Tickets £12 *SOLD OUT*
Groups of 10+ automatically receive a 10% discount
Background
The curtain opens on the sinister interior of the workhouse with a bare dining table. Pale-faced wretches can be seen peering through the bars of the door at the back. The door opens and the boys file in to the table singing "Food, Glorious Food". Widow Corney, who runs the workhouse, and Mr Bumble, the parish beadle, enter to serve gruel to the boys. Alone amongst them Oliver takes the bowl to Bumble and asks, "Please, Sir, I want some more". Bumble is outraged. Oliver must go and so he hawks Oliver through the streets of London singing "Boy For Sale". Oliver is sold to Mr Sowerberry, the undertaker. Alone, plaintive and surrounded by coffins, Oliver sings, "Where Is Love?"
He runs away and meets the Artful Dodger who sings "Consider Yourself At Home". Oliver is taken to a hideout to meet Fagin and the apprentice thieves - they welcome Oliver with "You've Got to Pick-a-Pocket or Two". Nancy, Bill Sykes girl, and Bet arrive and sing "It's A Fine Life". Next morning Oliver goes with the boys and is arrested by the police, not for picking pockets but simply for looking guilty.
In Act 2 Nancy sings "Oom-pah-pah". Fagin's boys tell of Oliver's arrest by the police but that, as he has been found to be innocent, he is now safe in the house of a kindly, rich gentleman. Fagin and Sykes despatch Nancy to get Oliver back. Meanwhile, Oliver has become a well-cared for little lad. Seeing London street-traders from his bedroom window he sings "Who Will Buy?", a plea that his good fortune will become permanent. However, outside the house he is captured by Nancy and she returns him to Fagin. Fagin sings "Reviewing the Situation" and thinks of going straight.
Bumble and Mrs Corney, now married, discover that Oliver is the heir to a rich family and try to get him back. A regretful Nancy plans to return Oliver to his benefactor. She is fearful of Sykes yet sings, "As Long As He Needs Me". Sykes stalks and kills her, grabs Oliver and, after a chase, is shot dead. Oliver is restored to his benefactor who, as it turns out, is his own grandfather. Fagin, now minus the boys, home and money, reprises "Reviewing the Situation".
Stage Production
On 30 June 1960 OLIVER! opened at the New Theatre (later renamed the Albery Theatre) with 23 curtain calls. It ran for 2,618 performances in London. With it's successful run in London still going strong, it opened at the Imperial Theatre on 6 January 1963 on Broadway, running for 774 performances. The Broadway production won a Tony for Bart. He was the first English composer to win a Tony for Best Musical. Several child actors started their careers in the title role including Davy Jones.
There have been two revivals in London in recent years. The first opened at the Palladium on 8 December 1994 and closed on 23 February 1998 before going on tour and then to Broadway. The second opened at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane on 14 January 2009 and closed on 8 January 2011.
Credits
A Musical Play in 2 Acts, freely based on Charles Dickens' Oliver Twist
Music, Lyrics & Book by LIONEL BART
Produced for the Broadway stage by DAVID MERRICK and DONALD ALBERY
Artistic Director ANN SULLIVAN
Musical Director ALAN WATTS
This amateur production is presented by arrangement with Musicscope and Stage Musicals Limited of New York
Performers
Oliver Twist CHARLIE LYNCH
Fagin VIC GRAY
The Artful Dodger JAMIE REED
Nancy VIKKI McKENZIE
Bill Sykes GARETH BARTON
Mr. Bumble GARY SULLIVAN
Widow Corney DAWN PEAT
Mr. Sowerberry JOHN HUNTING
Mrs. Sowerberry VANDA MERCER
Mr. Brownlow TBC
Bet REBECCA CORBEN
Charlotte PAMELA HARDY
Noah Claypole JOSH HANDLEY
Mrs. Bedwin MARGARET BELLINGER
Dr. Grimwig MARTYN WILLIAMS
Old Sally IRENE DRUETT
Charley Bates TBC
