South Eugene High School - Eugenean Yearbook (Eugene, OR)

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SPRING MUSICAL I G I' I 5 7 0 iver. September rumors became reality during January tryouts- Oliverl was coming to the South stage! Excitement mounted among drama enthusiasts as the nerve- wracking process of casting progressed. Scores of small boys auditioned for the coveted role of Oliver. Songs from the Broadway hit echoed around the Little Theater- As Long As He Needs Me, Where ls Love, Food, Glorious Food, and Youve Got to Pick a Pocket or Two. Lionel Bart adapted and scored the Dickens' classic for the stage. l-le was faithful to the original story and created a musical of haunting beauty and wistful sadness. Ole iver! is not a musical comedy. There is nothing comic in the cruelty of Bill Sikes, head of the London underworld, the suf- ferings of the young Oliver, or the tragic death of Nancy, Olivers friend among the thieves. Fagin, teacher of the pickpockets, has moments of misgivings about his life but decides after Reviewing the Situation that he is too old to change. Although Bill Sikes mistreats her, Nancy is convinced that he needs her. She finally discovers that Oliver also needs her love and her protec- tion. Technical aspects of Oliveri were as pol- ished as the actors' performances. The re- volving stage made scene changes faster and smoother. Prop committee members spent weeks searching out snuff boxes, ale mugs, long clay pipes, and a dog. Cos- tumes transformed the cast into ragged members of nineteenth century London slum society. Oliverl played to sellout audiences-a total of 9000 for the four-night run. Some were surprised by the unhappy plat. Others were thrilled by the professional quality of the entire production. All who viewed Ol- iver! knew they would long remember it. 94

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