LAMP - Linlithgow Amateur Musical Productions

"Oliver!" the musical is loosely based upon the novel 'Oliver Twist' by Charles Dickens, with music and lyrics by Lionel Bart.

Young orphan Oliver Twist is sold to a Dunstable undertaker after asking for more dinner at the orphanage. Escaping to London he meets the Artful Dodger, a young thief, and is taken in by Fagin to join his gang of child pickpockets. Wrongly accused of a theft he meets a kindly gentleman, Mr Brownlow,  who takes him in, to the concern of one of Fagin's old pupils, the violent Bill Sykes. In the middle is Nancy, Sykes' girlfriend whom Oliver has come to trust.

Nancy tries to help Oliver but is brutally murdered by Sykes. Sykes is then shot by police as he tries to escape. There is a happy element to the ending as Oliver is reunited with Mr Brownlow and, the likeable rogues Fagin and Dodger secretly make their escape.

The 1968 film adaptation used a mixture of young unknown actors and 'big names': Ron Moody (Fagin), Oliver Reed (Bill Sikes), Harry Secombe (Mr Bumble), Mark Lester (Oliver), Jack Wild (Dodger), Shani Wallis (Nancy) and Joseph O'Conor as Mr. Brownlow.

LAMP cast 1994

• Oliver...   Duncan Russell
• Fagin...   John Danskin
• The Artful Dodger...   Andrew Ure
• Bill Sykes...   George Marcinkiewicz
• Nancy...   Alison Train
• Bet...   Sarah Rumney
• Mr. Bumble...   Alex Kemp
• Mrs. Corney...   Carol Fraser
• Mr. Brownlow...   Thom Riddell
• Mr. Sowerberry...   David English
• Mrs. Sowerberry...   Lenna Gray
• Charlotte...   Elisa Laing
• Noah Claypole...   Grant Marshall
• Dr. Grimwig...   Keith Bates
• Mrs. Bedwin...   Fiona Scott
• Old Sally... Valerie Withnell
• Annie...   Fiona Harrison