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| OLIVER!, 1972-73 |
Book, Music and Lyrics: Lionel Bart
Oliver: Michael Carey
Fagin: Leonard Nimoy
Mr. Brownlow: Jim Myers
The Artful Dodger: Stuart Getz
Bill Sykes: Art Lund
Nancy: Paula Kelly
Bet: Jo Jean Retrum
Mr. Bumble: Alan Crofoot
Mrs. Corney: Maggie Task
Old Sally: Susan Rush
Mr. Sowerberry the Undertaker: David Bates
Mrs. Sowerberry: Dorsey Vogt
Mrs. Brownlow: Clyde Miller
Dr. Grimwig: Dale J. Ballaire
Oliver lives in an orphanage. He
is mistreaten and barely fed by Mr. Bumble and Widow Corney who run the place.
When he dares to ask for more food, Mr Bumble sells him to an undertacker who
takes him as apprentice and treats him even worse. When the undertacker puts him
to sleep in a coffin as a punishement for trying to rebel, Oliver runs away and,
after days of walking, reaches London.
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Here,
he meets an older boy, called the Artful Dodger, because of his questionable
skills as a pickpocketer. He introduces Oliver to his gang of boy-thieves and
to their mentor, a man named Fagin.
Fagin teachs the boys to steal and beg and, in trade of their findings, offers
them shelter, food and "family". Oliver joins the gang and is
befriended by Nancy, a nice and good-hearted girl, with an ominous boyfriend,
Bill Sykes. Nancy tells Oliver that a life of crime is fine, as long as one can
look after himself and his friends.
On his first day out, Oliver is led by the Artful Dodger, who steals Mr Brownlow's wallet. Oliver is apprehended in his place by the police. Mr Brownlow is a good man. He understands that Oliver is just a familyless child, struggling to survive. He manages to have him released and takes him to his home. Oliver's life seems to finally lighten up, but Sykes, dreading that Oliver might expose the gang and himself, talks Nancy into helping him to capture the boy and take him back to Fagin's. They succeed.
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Sykes
also takes from Oliver the money that Mr Brownlow had given to him. Oliver
protests and Sykes threatens him, but Nancy steps in to protect the boy. They
quarrel. Fagin tries to placate them, but they storm away. Fagin sends the boys
out to work and, left alone, takes out his treasure and, while handling and
evaluating it, wonders if it might be time for him to retire.
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In the meanwhile, Mr Bumble and Widow Corney have found out that Oliver is the illegitimate son of Mr. Brownlow's daugther, who died giving birth. Mr Brownlow knows nothing of what happened to his daughter and her baby and is offering a reward to whom will bring him information about them. But when Bumble and Corney visit him to claim the prize, he guesses that they are the ones who mistreated his poor daughter and his grandson. He throws them out and promise to see that they get properly paid back for their cruelty.
Nancy wants to help Oliver without betraying Sykes, whom she loves. She meets Mr Brownlow and agrees with him to secretly bring the boy to him, in the night, but Sykes catches her and, believing she betrayed him, kills her and tries to run away, taking Oliver as a hostage. Pursued to Fagin's den, Sykes is killed and Oliver freed.
Fagin escapes and nobody can tell what will become of him.
The Songs:
- -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
- -Oom-Pah-Pah
- -The Robbery
- -My Name!
- -As Long As He Needs Me
- -Who Will Buy
- -Reviewing the Situation
- -London Bridge
