Oliver! - Synopsis of the Plot

Act 1

It is time for the evening meal at the workhouse. The orphans dream of banquets as they hungrily await their meagre portions of gruel. The Beadle (Mr Bumble) and Widow Corney (in charge of the workhouse) enter and the meal begins. Suddenly a boy is pushed onto the floor and approaches Mr Bumble, asking for more. He is marched away and forced to leave, for fear he should unsettle the other orphans.

Widow Corney and Mr Bumble get together over a cup of tea in the workhouse parlour. Each flirts outrageously until Mrs Corney squeezes a proposal of marriage from Mr Bumble. Oliver is brought - ready to be taken away to be sold by the Beadle.

Oliver is paraded through the street until a buyer is found - Mr Sowerberry, the undertaker, who, with his wife, decides to use Oliver as a 'Special effect' for Children's funerals. Oliver is left on his own in the dark to dream of his mother.

He is rudely awakened next morning by Noak Claypole, Sowerberry's apprentice, who, with Charlotte Sowerberry, bullies Oliver unmercifully. Noah insults Oliver's mother and Oliver attacks him. In the chaos that follows Oliver is shut in a coffin and Noah fetches the Beadle. Oliver is taken to task for his behaviour but escapes and runs away.

Oliver is on his way to London when he is met by a colourful young 'gent' introducing himself as The Artful Dodger. Dodger insists on taking Oliver to meet his friend Mr Fagin. Suddenly a whiole gang of young ruffians appears and welcomes Oliver.

Oliver is taken to Fagin's thieves' kitchen where Fagin welcomes him and proceeds to teach him how to pick pockets, before settling the boys down for the night.

Oliver wakes too early and sees Fagin counting treasures. Fagin threatens him. Young tarts Nancy and Bet arrive to help sort the boys out and are introduced to Oliver. They tease him, making him sing and dance in front of the gtang. Fagin sends all his boys out for their day's pickings - Dodger and Charlie take charge of Oliver.

Up on the street a wealthy gentleman (Mr Brownlow) approaches a book stall. Dodger and Charlie follow and rob him, then plant the evidence on Oliver. They run off as the alarm is sounded, leaving Oliver to be taken as the thief. Oliver is arrested by the Bow Street Runners.

Act 2

The Three Cripples Inn: Nancy sings a bawdy song for the locals. Her parpner Bill Sykes enters. It is clear he is a killer and proud of it. The room empties. Dodger runs in, describing Oliver's arrest and explaining that Oliver is now at Mr Brownlow's house in Bloomsbury. Fagin tells Nancy to fetch Oliver back. When she refuses, Sykes attacks her - Nancy is then left on her own - and sadly she thinks about her feelings for Bill.

Oliver wakes up in Bloomsbury, as Mrs Bedwin (Brownlow's housekeeper) sings to him. He can't believe his good fortune as he sees the street vendors and the beautiful day outside. Dr Grimwig is ushered in to examine Oliver and declares him to be well. Oliver begs to be allowed to visit the bookshop for Mr Brownlow and he is given books and money. As he stops in the street Nancy, Bet and Sykes kidnap him, pretending he is their lost brother.

Oliver is dragged back to Fagin, who instructs the gang to take his new clothes away, and takes the books and money. Sykes threatens Oliver and as Nancy stands up for him she is once more attacked. She runs off. Fagin tells Bill to 'look after her'. Dodger takes Oliver to sort out and Fagin hurries to collect his treasures ready to clear out the den in case of intruders.

In the workhouse parlour, newlyweds Mr and Mrs Bumble bicker away. Mrs Bumble is called to deal with Old Sally who is dying - and has a secret to tell. Sally tells of a locket she stole from Oliver's dying mother. Mrs Bumble tells Mr Bumble to take the locket and find Oliver, hoping for a reward. She stops to think and decides it would be in her best interests to go with him.

Mr Bumble visits Brownlow and hands over the locket, but, when he discovers that Oliver was sold, Brownlow dismisses Bumble, threatening to ruin him. Brownlow examines the locket and suspects Oliver is his daughter Agnes' child.

Nancy pushed in from the back door. She is very agitated: she confesses the kidnap of Oliver and agrees to meet Brownlow at night on London Bridge and hand over Oliver to him. She is spotted as she leaves the house, but, unaware of this, she describes her divided loyalties.

On London Bridge Nancy and Oliver wait for Brownlow. Sykes appears and attacks Nancy - killing her. Oliver runs off, followed by Sykes. As Brownlow discovers the body and a crowd gathers, Sykes runs to Fagin's den - he has caught Oliver. Sykes takes Oliver hostage up onto the roof, threatening to kill him if the crowd doesn't disperse. A hussar appears and shoots Sykes dead.

Oliver is fetched down and handed to Brownlow and mrs Bedwin. The gang runs out, Dodger is arrested, but there is no sign of Fagin. The crowd runs to the Three Cripples to search for him. Fagin steps out of the shadows: he intends to start afresh - will this be possible?

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