From the Directors

from Oliver! Program (2023)

Itseems everyone has an Oliver! story from the friend whose mum played Nancy, to a teacher who played Fagin. CGS also has a unique relationship to the musical, Barry Humphries having played Sowerberry in the original London production as well as a number of our own performances where current staff were seen on stage. The more fascinating story behind Oliver! is the man who created it, Lionel Bart and his true rags-to-riches-to-rags tale. A musical prodigy, Bart began his career writing pop songs in the 1950’s. His previous attempts at musicals were flops and it wasn’t until a producer heard Bart singing all the vocal parts on a demo tape that Oliver! was financed. Bart was notoriously fickle and the version that went up on opening night in 1960 had only been rehearsed by the cast nights before, due to the frequent rewrites handed in by the composer. Bart wrote the book, libretto, and the music, despite being unable to read or write music. Bart would hum the melodies to Eric Rogers, a composer, who would notate the melodies (there’s no record of who wrote the harmonies). Bart’s gift was writing a melody that you felt like you already knew; he said of his own writing style that he wouldn’t spend more time on anything that didn’t feel “spontaneous – like a sneeze”.

The overnight success of Oliver brought an excess that was to be Bart’s downfall. He squandered it on lavish houses, parties and gambling and it ended with him selling the rights to Oliver! to fund his other doomed productions. His friend, Barry Humphries, invited him to Australia to recover and to rework another of his musicals.

Oliver! is somewhat a case of art imitating Dickensian life. Bart, the seventh surviving child of twelve children, always felt abandoned and ignored by his parents, and like Oliver, was always just looking for love. He revised the musical in 1994 but his career never again achieved the success he had with Oliver!.

Our past productions of Oliver

In an age where orchestras are reduced to synthesisers, backing tracks and hidden away backstage, we are blessed to be performing with a 21-piece orchestra (complete with anvil, spoons, recorder, and accordion) of staff and students playing the orchestrations from the West End and Broadway productions.

Camberwell Grammar School has produced Oliver three times in the past – in 1976, 1981 and 1988. Andrew Tucker (1980) stared as Oliver in the ‘76 production with our previous Director of Music, Trevor Henley, as Musical Director and with the following teachers acting; Christopher Bence (as Mr Bumble), Margaret Leonard (Mrs Sowerberry), Bill Brooks (Sikes), still current English teacher John Allan (as Mr Brownlow) and with Tony Brown (28 years at CGS as director, producer and actor) playing Fagin. This production was re-staged in ’81 but with Richard Thurkle (1986) as Oliver, and Ron Wootton (as Sikes).

In 1988 a new production was presented with Oliver being played by Cameron Hepburn (1993, Captain of Music, School Vice-Captain, and Gallery of Achievement) and Michael Wilson (1992). Christopher Bence reprised his role as Mr Bumble, but Mr Sowerberry was played by Headmaster Colin Black (who went on to build the Performing Arts Centre). One time Deputy Head, Acting Headmaster and more recently the retired Head of History, Graham Morey-Nase, played the vicious Sikes (and was ironically double cast as the Knife-Grinder).

Thirty-four years later, we hope you enjoy the return of this widely adored show.

Andrew Stocker Alex St Vincent Welch Director Musical Director

Act I

At the local workhouse, orphan boys enter the dining room for their dinner. They find solace in imagining a delicious menu ( Food Glorious Food) but are only fed gruel. When Oliver asks for more, he is immediately seized by the heartless caretakers of the workhouse (Oliver!). Alone in the parlour, Mr. Bumble and Widow Corney exchange flirtations ( I Shall Scream) and he eventually proposes to her. Mr. Bumble then takes Oliver and sells him as an apprentice to an undertaker, Mr. Sowerberry ( Boy for Sale). He and his wife taunt Oliver and Mr. Bumble ( That’s Your Funeral), causing Mr. Bumble to become angry and storm out. Oliver is sent to sleep with the coffins ( Where Is Love?).

The next morning, Noah Claypole (an employee of Mr Sowerberry) insults Oliver’s dead mother. Mrs. Sowerberry and her daughter Charlotte hurriedly run in as Oliver begins to beat Noah. As Mr. Bumble is sent for, Oliver is locked in a coffin but escapes during the commotion.

After a week on the run, Oliver ends up in the city of London and

Act II

In a local public house, Nancy strikes up an old tavern song (Oom‑Pah Pah) with the crowd. Bill Sikes reminds everyone of his reputation ( My Name) before Dodger runs in and tells Fagin about Oliver’s capture and removal to the Brownlow household. Fearful that the gang’s location will be revealed, Fagin and Bill decide to abduct Oliver and bring him back to the hideaway, with Nancy’s help. Nancy, who has come to care for Oliver, at first refuses to help, but Bill forces her to obey. In spite of this, Nancy still loves Bill, and believes he loves her too (As Long as He Needs Me).

The next morning at Mr. Brownlow’s house, Mrs. Bedwin the housekeeper sings to Oliver ( Where Is Love? [Reprise]). When he wakes up, Mr. Brownlow and Dr. Grimwig decide that Oliver is well enough to return some books to the library. Oliver sees a group of street vendors and celebrates the joyous change in his fortunes ( Who Will Buy?). As the vendors leave, Nancy and Bill capture Oliver. They bring him back to the hideaway, where Nancy saves Oliver from a beating from Bill. As Nancy and Bill disagree, Fagin tries to keep It’s A Fine Life [Reprise]). Left alone, Fagin wonders what his life might be like if he left London and began an honest Reviewing the Situation); however, after thinking of various excuses, he elects to remain a thief.

Back at the workhouse, Mr. Bumble and the Widow Corney, now unhappily married, meet with Old Sally, who tells them that Oliver’s mother left a gold locket when she died in childbirth. Old Sally stole the locket, which she gives to the Widow Corney. Realizing that Oliver may have wealthy relatives (Oliver! [Reprise]), Mr. Bumble and Widow Corney visit Mr. Brownlow, who has advertised in newspapers in search of Oliver. Mr. Brownlow realises the pair are not interested in Oliver’s welfare, and throws them out. He recognizes the picture inside the locket as a picture of his daughter, and realizes that Oliver is actually his grandson.

Nancy visits Mr. Brownlow to explain how she and Bill abducted Oliver, and remorsefully vows to deliver Oliver to him safely that night at London Bridge. She ponders her life with Bill As Long as He Needs Me [Reprise]).

Suspecting that Nancy is up to something, Bill follows her as she sneaks Oliver out of Fagin’s lair. At London Bridge, he confronts them, knocks Oliver unconscious, and clubs Nancy to death.

As he escapes, Mr. Brownlow arrives and discovers Nancy’s body. A large crowd forms and pursues Bill Sikes, who appears at the top of a building, holding Oliver as hostage and threatening to kill him. As the crowd watches on, Bill Sikes is shot and Oliver is reunited with Mr. Brownlow. Fagin decides that the time has never looked better for him to straighten out his life Reviewing the Situation [Reprise]).