About the Show
The colorful characters of Charles Dickens' classic "Oliver Twist" come brilliantly to
life in Victorian London. Oliver Twist is sold to a Dunstable undertaker after asking
for more dinner at the orphanage. Escaping to London he is taken in by Fagin to
join his gang of child pickpockets. Wrongly accused of a theft he meets a more
kindly gentleman who takes him in, to the concern of one of Fagin's old pupils,
the violent Bill Sykes. In the middle is Nancy, Sykes' girl whom Oliver has come to
trust.

"Please, Sir, I want some more" sets the musical number Food, Glorious
Food into frenzied motion, while the Tony Award winning score also
includes As Long As He Needs Me, Consider Yourself At Home, and
Youve Got to Pick a Pocket or Two.

This show truly captures the joys and challenges of youth and will be sure
to warm the heart of your entire family.

Presented at The Palace Theatre
80 Hanover Street, Manchester NH
  Friday March 7 @ 8pm
  Saturday March 8 @ 8pm
  Sunday March 9th @ 2pm
  Friday March 14th @ 8pm


Tickets are $15 for
Adults, $10 for Seniors.

Thanks to an amazing
cast and crew for another
first rate theatre production!

Click the links below to see
Pictures of the show
Pictures #1, Pictures #2,
Pictures #3, Pictures #4


Click to view show comments from a children's "Reader's Theatre" class

>> Scroll down for a detailed Synopsis <<
__________________________________________________________

Production Staff
Director: Betty Thomson
Asst Director: Brett Mallard
Music Director: Jed Holland
Choreographer: Betty Thomson
Stage Manager: Denise Burke
Asst Stage Manager: Brian Burke
Executive Producer: Joe L. Vago
Producer: Catherine Andruskevich

Costumes: Mary Selvoski, Betty Thomson
Technical Director: Jack Trommer
Set Build Manager: Jack Trommer
Set Design: Dick Marshall, Lacy Long, Jack Trommer, Dave Nelson, Joe Vago
Set Styling: Lacy Long, Betty Thomson
Set Build: Jack Trommer, Joe Vago, Mike O'Keefe, Scott Katrycz, Brian Burke, Peter Lasond, Chuck Emmons,
and Nelson LeMay
Set Painting: Lacy Long, Bert DeWaters, Betty Thomson, Sally Nutt,   
Catherine Andruskevich, Betty Thomson, Adrienne Jackson
Wayland Bunnel, Jack Trommer
Lighting Design: Dave Nelson
Lighting Hang: Dave Nelson, Bruce Cameron, Joe Vago, Scott Katrycz,
Peter Dusaitis
Sound Design: Joe L. Vago
Lighting Run: Doug Penney
Sound Run: OPEN
Treasury: Anne Young
Props Master: Catherine Andruskevich,
Doug Penney, Jack Trommer

Advertising Director: Lindsey Peterson
Program Manager: Sara Scheiner
Promotions: Eric Scheiner
Sales: OPEN
Poster Design: Bert DeWaters
__________________________________________________________

Cast
Oliver Twist - John Barsoian
Mr. Bumble - Bill Hartery
Widow Corney - Maggie Burgess
Noah Clayson - Peter Lasond
Mr. Sowerberry - John Flynn
Mrs. Sowerberry - Susan Ellet
Charlotte - Jennifer Mallard
The Artful Dodger - Kai Demello-Folsom
Fagin - Matt Gregg
Nancy - Elizabeth Laflamme
Charles Bates - Adam Walton
Bet - Martha Daniels Holland
Bill Sykes - Joe L. Vago
Mrs. Bedwin - Mary Ellen Stafford
Mr. Brownlow - Greg Tarsa
Dr. Grimwig - Gary Evans

ENSEMBLE:
Katryn Baker    Aimee Labrie
Elizabeth Judd  Peter Lasond
Rachel Dudley  Jennifer Mallard
Andrea Deachman                   Sarah Minerd
Kelly Dexter      Sally Nutt
Gary Evans       Bruce Smith
Emily ElletLori Smith
Joshua Friedman      Tracy Smith
Pat Gage  Mary Ellen Stafford
Martha Holland  Tom Caron
Rachael Walker Scott Katrycz
Steve RileyJosh Dudley

ORPHANS:
Dana Barsoian  Sarah Mousseau
John Barsoian   Danny Naczas
Ryan Deachman       Michael O'Keefe
Allyson DeclouxJustin Page
Catherine Decloux     Nick Purcell
Lauren Decloux Samuel St. Jean
Tajian Demello-Folsom      Gregor Stocks
Jacqui GrilliCorey Walker
Andrew Holland  Rachael Walker
Nicky Judd Adam Walton

FAGIN'S BOYS:
Ryan DeachmanTajian diMello-Folsom
Andrew Holland  Nicky Judd
Danny Naczas   Michael O'Keefe
Nick Purcell       Samuel St. Jean
Gregor Stocks    Adam Walton
__________________________________________________________

Comments
From the www.NHTheatre.com website: Adjucator Comments
Best Actor Comments
Great energy and powerful voice!

Best Actress Comments
She has a beautiful voice, but was hard to understand when speaking

Best Supporting Actor 2 Comments
Its hard to imagine a more perfect portrayal of this part. Mr. Flynn captured the Dickens spirit laudably!

Best Direction Comments
An engaging production of a classic...always interesting...great character portrayals...well directed.  A very good job in getting all the kids working together. ..............

Best Musical Direction Comments
Great job!

Best Choreography Comments
Hard to know sometimes whether choreography or stage direction resulted in great moments, but both rated high. Loved Matt Greggs Yiddish Fagan...great hands and movement!

Best Lighting Design Comments
I found it was a little too dark too see clearly in the Fagin scenes.

Best Set Design Comments
Great details in even the smallest settings such as Fagans table set-up.  A good job in finding a solution to all the different locales. Scene changes were accomplished quickly.

Best Costuming Comments
A great example of recreating classic characters the way an audience expects them to look. Nice details

Ensemble Comments
The pairings in this show were superbly cast (Bumble &Widow, Sowerberrys, Bill & Nancy, etc.) The ensemble acting in this show was one of its strongest points...male and female, old and young, they worked together to create a convincing and interesting show. I especially loved the older character actresses in the ensemble scenes.
__________________________________________________________

Schedules
REHEARSALS
Rehearsals will be held Sundays at 83 Hanover Street, in Manchester NH (Across from the Palace theatre) in the Third Floor Ballroom.

Rehersal times will be scheduled for each person.  Schedules will be sent out via email starting in mid-January. 

Musical rehearsals will be every Sunday starting January 5th, from 12 noon to 6pm.  For some speaking roles or dance numbers, Thursday rehearsal times will be scheduled as needed during the hours of 6pm-9pm.

MISSED REHEARSALS: We ask that you be available every rehersal, but we understand if you must miss 1 rehearsal.  Missing 2 or more rehearsals becomes a hardship on the cast.

OFFICIAL CAST PARTY - SUNDAY MARCH 9th
Because we no longer need to strike late Sunday evening, we can combine the
cast parties into one which will start at 6:30pm on Sunday March 9th at the
function room of the Puritan Backroom Restaurant.

NOTE: alcohol will be served

SPACE LIMITATIONS
The Puritan Backroom function room can hold up to 110 people.  Because of the large cast/crew - and their significant others & parents - seats at the table will be on a FIRST PAID, first served basis.  This price does NOT include beverages.

Because of the seating limit, guests must be limited to one per adult and only parents of the children in the cast, if they wish to attend - but we ask that there are no friends, cousins, etc. 

COSTS AND DISCOUNTS
The cost per person is $16.50 per adult.  For dining purposes, the Backroom
considers an adult to be "any child 10 years and older"

The Backroom is offering ONLY the following children's discount:  "two for the price of one under the age of 10."  They did NOT say "half price for children under the age of 10." 

CHECKS PAYABLE TO
Please make checks payable to New Thalian Players. PLEASE: attach a piece of paper with the names of those covered by your check.

DEADLINE DATE
We must give the Backroom a "Final" head count by the afternoon of
Saturday, March 8.   All payments must be made by the Friday
evening performance on March 7th.

WHO AND WHEN TO PAY
Out producer, Catherine Andruskevich will be at rehearsal on Thursday evening, Feb. 27, and all during production week to accept payments.

If you have any questions, either e-mail catherine.andruskevich@dechert.com.

SET BUILD
Will be at the New Warehouse every Saturday in February, from 9:30am until 3pm-ish. 

SET LOAD IN
Will happen on Sunday, March 2nd from 11am-9pm. 

Everyone will be needed to assist with the load.  Meet Jack Trommer and Betty Thomson at 11am at the New Warehouse location (150 Dow Street, Manchester).  If you are helping with lighting, meet at 11am at the Palace Theatre.

Rehearsal will start sometime after 5pm - see Joe or Betty that day for exact times.

TECH WEEK
March 2nd-6th 2003.  Call is Tuesday-Thursday from 6pm-11pm
at the Palace Theatre in Manchester NH

A Cue-To-Cue will he held Monday March 3rd starting 7pm.  All Technical, set, and stage crew will be required to be at the Palace at 6pm or earlier.

STRIKE
A mini-strike will take place on Sunday March 9th immediately after the 2pm show - and BEFORE any parites begin.  Jack and Joe will coordinate.

Final strike will take place on the morning of Saturday March 15th.  ALL CAST WILL BE REQUIRED FOR FINAL STRIKE  Please see Denise if you have a conflict.

PERFORMANCE DATES
Friday, March 7th @ 10am (special show for school's)
Friday, March 7th @ 8pm
Saturday, March 8th @ 8pm
Sunday, March 9th @ 2pm
Friday, March 14th @ 8pm
__________________________________________________________

Show Synopsis

"Oliver!"
Book, Music & Lyrics by Lionel Bart

Click here for a link to lyrics of the shows songs Oliver! Lyrics

The curtain opens on the sinister interior of the workhouse with a bare dining table, center stage, where the boys will sit. These pale-faced wretches can be seen peering through the bars of a door at the back. Looming above two curving stairways glows the legend "God Is Love" in rough letters. The door is opened and the boys file to the table and sing Food, Glorious Food. At the end of the song, the Widow Corney, who runs the workhouse and Mr. Bumble, the parish beadle, enter and a thin gruel is served. Wolfing the meagre fare, the boys hopelessly stack their bowls, but the hapless Oliver approaches Bumble with the entreaty; "Please sir, I want some more." He is instantly subdued. Oliver is locked behind the barred door as the rest of the boys exit upstairs.

Oliver is brought forward, bag and baggage, and is led off by Bumble who sings the haunting Boy for Sale. Walking through the streets of London, they arrive at Mr. Sowerberry's, the undertaker. Oliver is "sold" to the undertaker. Alone and frightened and surrounded by coffins on stage, he sings the plain- tive Where Is Love?

Oliver runs away the very next morning, and is picked up hungry and tired in the streets by the Artful Dodger who cheers him up with Consider Yourself. The Dodger leads him through crowded streets to Fagin's kitchen. The boys come in and Fagin himself appears and, with a mock solemn welcome to Oliver, sings the fantastic You've Got to Pick a Pocket or Two. Nancy, Bill Sikes' girl and Bet arrive. The two of them, accompanied by the boys and , Fagin, celebrate their way of life in It's a Fine Life. The action moves to the next morning when Fagin sends the boys off on a pocket-picking expedition, Oliver among them. The stage now displays a city scene and we witness the capture of Oliver, not for picking pockets, but for simply looking guilty.

Oom.Pah-Pah. Fagin's boys pour down the stairs telling of Oliver's apprehension by the police, at the same time revealing that his innocence has been established and that he is presently ensconced in the home of a rich old gentleman. Fearful lest he give away their set-up, Fagin and Sikes dispatch Nancy to get 0liver back.

Meanwhile, at the home of his new-found benefactor, the erstwhile ragged Oliver has become a well-tailored, well-cared for little lad. Looking out of his bedroom window he observes some passing street vendors crying their wares; he sings Who Will Buy? A plea that his good luck and new situation in life will be permanent. However, the moment he sets foot outside his benefactor's house, Oliver is seized and dragged off by Nancy to Fagin's.

In the next scene Fagin occupies the empty stage and considers going straight in Reviewing the Situation. Subsequently, Bumble and Mrs. Corney, now uncomfortably married, discover that Oliver is the scion of a rich family. Their scheme to get him back fails and Nancy, regretting her part in the capture of Oliver, plans to return him to his benefactor at night on London Bridge. Fearful of Sikes, she reprises As Long as He Neeqs Me. Sikes stalks her and kills her. He grabs Oliver and, after a chase, is himself shot dead. Oliver is restored to his benefactor and Fagin, now without boys, home and money, reprises Reviewing the Situation.

List of Songs in Order:
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
Rum Tum Tum
You've Got To Pick-A-Pocket Or Two
It's a Fine Life
I'd Do Anything
Be Back Soon
The Robbery
Oom-Pah-Pah
My Name!
As Long As He Needs Me
Who Will Buy?
Reviewing the Situation
London Bridge Past Productions