OLIVER!
Directors Notes
Hi and welcome to the start of the Wakefield Country Players production of the musical Oliver!
Written by Lionel Bart and based upon the novel Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens, the musical premiered in
London’s West End in 1960. After enjoying a long run on the West End, it opened in New York in 1963 where it
won a Tony award for Best Original Score.
Quick Synopsis
“Oliver!” is a musical classic. It Brings the Charles Dickens novel alive, as we follow orphaned, Oliver Twist on a
journey through London’s Victorian underworld of pickpockets and villains, searching for a place to call home.
When Oliver is picked up on the streets by a boy called the Artful Dodger, he is welcomed into a gang of
pickpockets led by the scheming Fagin. When Oliver is accused of a theft he did not commit, he is rescued by a
kind and wealthy gentleman. Fearing Oliver might betray his criminal gang, Fagin and the violent Bill Sykes
decide that Oliver must be brought back into the gang. Caught in the middle is the kind-hearted Nancy, who is
trapped under the thumb of Bill Sykes, but is desperate to help Oliver escape from Bill and find him a home.
The show has many colourful characters, it has bad guys, good guys, loveable rouges, adorable children, a
deplorable villain, a heroine, great music, great story and in the end, a happy ending.
Commitment
Being involved in “Oliver!” requires a great deal of commitment and dedication from everyone. Before you
consider signing up for an audition. Please check for any potential conflicts that would prevent you from
attending a scheduled rehearsal, it is our expectation that you attend all of your scheduled rehearsals.
Team Work and Fun
The biggest part of “Oliver!” is that everyone involved has fun, sure there will be hard work, but in the end we
will have a fantastic show. Don’t forget this is a team effort and everyone involved is part of a team, from the
youngest to the oldest member.
So join in and “Consider yourself one of us”.
John Amosa
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Audition Information for Oliver!
Audition Date: 16th of May, 10:00 am for the Adults
Audition Date: 17th of May, 10:00 for the children
Audition Location: Wakefield Village Hall
Audition Panel:
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John Amosa
Melanie Stewart
Margy Wallace, accompanist
Audition
This is an open audition, which runs on a first in first serve basis. There may be a waiting time before your audition. It’s
similar to American Idol with queues of people waiting to get in for auditions, well…maybe not.
There will be forms to sign.
It would be good to bring a photo.
Plan to spend approximately 6-10 minutes per audition, with the audition panel.
The audition is for vocal and acting. There is dancing in the show, we are not auditioning for the dance, however dance
experience would be great. The children will be taught the dance moves during rehearsals.
Songs
Fagin
Nancy
Mr Bumble/Mr Sowerberry
Mrs Sowerberry/Widow Corney
Oliver
The Artful Dodger
Work house Children/Pickpockets
“Pick a pocket or two”
“As long as he needs me”
“Boy for sale”
“I shall scream”
“Where is the love”
“Consider Yourself”
“Consider Yourself”
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Adults
Casting is for 16 Adults. There are 14 core characters.
Vocals: Please come prepared with one “Oliver!” Musical number. If you are auditioning for a specific character, your
song should be in the style of that character.
You may not have time to sing the full song. Or you may be asked to repeat a section of the song. Sing time maybe 3-5
minutes.
During the pressure of an audition it is recommended to use a printed copy.
An accompanist will be available.
Acting: If you are auditioning for one of the main characters then please have a monologue prepared. This is a short
reading from Oliver!
It is not necessary to memorize the monologue, although you may choose to. Choose the one you are most comfortable
with. The monologue can be read from the script provided via the Country Players website.
Acting time maybe 3-5 minutes.
During the pressure of an audition it is recommended to use a printed copy.
Dance
Yes, I am repeating myself, but along with singing and acting, dance is another major component of the show. Children
who participate in Oliver! Will learn the dance moves. Adults with some dance experience would be appreciated
although it is not essential (however there will be some dance moves involved).
Children! (The most important people in the show)
Casting is for 16 children (5-16). There are 2 lead characters.
Be prepared that the audition with the children may take longer than the 6-10 minutes.
Vocals: “Consider Yourself” will be the children’s song. It would be helpful if the children are already familiar with the
song.
Children auditioning for the lead character of Oliver will need an extra song “where is the Love” The Artful Dodger will
sing “Consider Yourself”.
You may not have time to sing the full song. Or you may be asked to repeat a section of the song. Sing time maybe 3-5
minutes (or longer).
During the pressure of an audition it is recommended to use a printed copy.
An accompanist will be available.
Acting: The children auditioning for the lead characters of Oliver and the Artful Dodger will need to have a monologue
piece. It does not need to be memorized, it can be read from the script provided via the Country Players website.
However the children need to be familiar with the piece.
Acting time maybe 3-5 minutes (or longer).
During the pressure of an audition it is recommended to use a printed copy.
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A LIST OF CHARACTERS (Ages are approximate)
OLIVER TWIST
FAGIN
THE ARTFUL DODGER
BILL SYKES
NANCY (25-35ish)
BET (17-30ish)
MR BUMBLE
MRS CORNEY
MR BROWNLOW
MR SOWERBERRY
MRS SOWERBERRY
CHARLOTTE
NOAH CLAYPOLE
MR GRIMWIG
MRS BEDWIN
OLD SALLY
A workhouse boy about 11 years of age.
Runs training school for young pickpockets.
Fagin's brightest pupil - an undersized 16.
A villain in his prime.
A graduate of Fagin's academy, and Bill's doxy.
Lass in Fagin's establishment idolises Nancy.
A large and pompous Beadle of the workhouse.
A sharp-tongued, domineering widow; the Workhouse Mistress.
An old gentleman of wealth and breeding.
The Undertaker.
Undertakers Wife
Sowerberry’s teenage daughter.
The Undertaker's pimply apprentice.
The Doctor.
The Brownlow's Housekeeper.
A Pauper.
SPOKEN/SUNG AUDITION PIECES FOR MAIN CAST
Please come prepared with a song from Oliver to sing. There are many versions on You Tube. The address below has
soundtracks from the 2009 London version so you can familiarise yourself with the relevant songs:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_EQnPoKzLo&list=PL29662C320949315F&index=3
You do not need to provide your own backing track or music as a piano accompanist will be at auditions.
Oliver - Please, sir, I want some more. Please sir, I want some more. (Sings ‘Where Is Love’)
Fagin - (preparing to examine the loot that the young pickpockets have gathered for the day) “I hope you’ve all been hard
at work today, my dears. (Looks at the loot the boys have gathered.) Good boys! Good boys! So, what’ve you got,
Dodger? (Takes wallets from Dodger and examines them.) Hmmm, not as heavy as they might be. But very nicely made!
Yes indeed! Ingenious workman, ain’t he, Oliver? (turns to Charley) And what have YOU got my dear? (Charley hands
him 2 silk handkerchiefs.) Well, they’re very good ones, very! Yellow and green! (Checks out the embroidery.) We’ll have
to pick the intials out with a needle tho’. You’ll need to learn how to do this too Oliver my dear, won’t he boys? Just do
everything that Dodger and Charley do. Make ‘em your models my dear— especially Dodger.” (Sings ‘Pick a Pocket’)
Nancy/Bet – (telling a lie in a crowd of onlookers to try to convince Oliver to come back with her) “I’ve found him!
Oliver, oh, Oliver! My dear little brother! Where have you been? We’ve been worried out of our heads! Come home,
dear, come home! Oh, I’ve found him, thank goodness gracious heavens, I’ve found him! Oh, he ran away two weeks ago
from his parents who are hard-working respectable people, and went and joined a set of thieves and bad characters—
almost broke his mother’s heart. Please make him come home. Oliver, it’s me!! It’s me!! See, he knows his sister. He
can’t hide that. Oh, make him come home to his mother and father!” (Sings ‘As Long As He Needs Me’)
The Artful Dodger – (meeting Oliver for the first time in the street and trying to recruit him for Fagin’s Pickpocket Academy)
“I suppose you want some place to sleep tonight, don’t you? Are you accommodated? (Oliver shakes his head.) Then
accommodated you shall be, me old mate. There’s a certain house-and I know a respectable old gentleman lives there
who’ll give you lodgin’s for nothing, and never ask for the change. If I interduces someone its alright, on account of I
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happen ter be a pertickler favourite of Mister Fagin. . .that’s his name—Mister Fagin. My name’s Jack Dawkins – better
known among me more hintimate friends as the Artful Dodger. Come to think of it – I ain’t got no hintimate friends. Still,
what’s the difference, me old pork sausage, you’re coming with me!” (Sings ‘Consider Yourself’)
Mr. Bumble—(talking sternly to Oliver who has locked himself inside a coffin and refuses to come out) “Oliver? Do you
know this here voice Oliver?! And ain’t you afraid of it Oliver?! Ain’t you a-tremblin’ while I speak Oliver?! It’s not
madness madam. It’s meat! Meat, Madam, meat! You’ve overfed him Madam. You’ve raised an artificial spirit in the
boy unbecoming of his station in life. If you’d kept him on gruel madam, this never would have happened. The only thing
that can be done now that I know of is for me to take him back for a day or so, till he’s a little starved down. I’ll keep him
on gruel.” (Sings ‘Boy for Sale’)
Mrs. Sowerberry/Widow Corney (introducing Oliver and getting him some food) “Charlotte! Charlotte! Bring up some
of the cold bits we put out for the dog. It hasn’t been in all day, so it can go without ‘em. I daresay the boy isn’t too dainty
to eat ‘em, are ya boy? Charlotte love, this is the new boy. . .give them to him. (They watch Oliver hungrily polish off the
scraps.) Have you done boy? I’m glad to hear it. C’mon Charlotte. Don’t just stand there gawking. Now then, Oliver
Twist, your bed’s under the counter. You don’t mind sleeping among the coffins, I suppose? But it doesn’t much matter
whether you do or don’t, you can’t sleep nowhere else!” (sings ‘I Shall Scream’)
Mr Sowerberry -My dear, I have told Mr Bumble that we may consider taking in this boy to help in the shop. There's an
expression of melancholy on his face, which is very interesting. He would make a delightful coffin-follower. I don't mean
a regular coffin-follower to attend the grown-ups, but only for the children's practice. It would be very novel to have a
follower in proportion my sweet. (‘Boy for Sale’)
Bill Sikes - Why you old!.. Somebody must find out what's been done, or said. If he hasn't talked yet, there's still a chance
we might get him back - without suspicion. We'll nab him the very moment he dares to step out of that house. Now who's
gonna go? You'll get him back 'ere my girl- unless you want to feel my hands on your throat! (No singing audition)
Mr Brownlow - Where does he come from? You know I haven't the faintest idea. He was arrested for stealing my pocket
handkerchief. And when the shopkeeper told us what really happened and he was released by the magistrate, I brought
him here to make what amends I could. But I must confess I find myself strangely attached to the child. He's an orphan
(suddenly thoughtful) And yet... (He ponders. puzzled) . .. .It's strange. There's something in that boy's face .... .I can't
explain it, but...somewhere I seem to have seen him before ... somewhere a long time ago. (No singing audition)
Charlotte -Noah, I saved a nice little bit of bacon for you from master's breakfast. Oliver, pull up a chair for Mr Noah and
then take them bits and then take them bits and go over in the comer and eat 'em. And make haste, 'cos they'll want you
to mind the shop. D'you hear. (No singing audition)
Noah Claypole - Better not say anything more see!The cheek of it - the workhouse cheek of it! (NOAH curls up his nose in
disgust) Yer know, Work'us, it can't be helped now, and of course, yer couldn't help it then, and I'm very sorry for it, and
I'm sure we all are, and pity yer very much. But yer must know work'us, your mother was a regular right down bad 'un.
And it's a good thing she died when she did or she'd have been transported to Australaylia, or hung from a gibbet as like
as not! (No singing audition)
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OLIVER!
Name
Age
Address
Home Phone
Mobile
Email Address
Parent/Guardians Name
Preferred Role
I am willing to be cast in other roles (including chorus roles) Yes/No
List any conflicts (issues with date, other commitments,s etc…)
Medical conditions we may need to know about
Signature
Date
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