Oliver and Dodger Audition Script

OLIVER:                (to himself, quietly) So many people... I don’t know where to go. I’m all alone. 

(DODGER enters, whistling cheerfully, hands in pockets. He spots OLIVER and approaches.) 

DODGER:             Oi! You alright, mate? You look like you’ve been chased by a pack of angry butchers. 

OLIVER:                (startled) I... I came from the workhouse. I walked here... I don’t know where I am. 

DODGER:             Workhouse, eh? Rough place. You’re lucky you found me. Name’s Dodger. Artful Dodger. I know someone who takes care of boys like you. 

OLIVER:                You mean... I can stay somewhere safe? 

DODGER:             As safe as London gets! Come on, I’ll take you to Fagin’s. There’s food, friends, and even a bed - if you don’t mind sharing it with a mouse or two. 

OLIVER (singing): 
Where is love? 

Does it fall from skies above? 

Is it underneath the willow tree 

That I've been dreaming of? 

Where is she? 

Who I close my eyes to see? 

Will I ever know the sweet "hello" 

That's meant for only me? 

Who can say where she may hide? 

Must I travel far and wide? 

'Til I am beside the someone who 

I can mean something to  

Where? 

Where is love? 

Every night I kneel and pray, 
Let tomorrow be the day. 
When I see the face of someone who, 
I can mean, something to. 
Where, Where is love? 

DODGER: 

Consider yourself at home. 
Consider yourself one of the family. 
We've taken to you so strong. 
It's clear we're going to get along. 
Consider yourself well in 
Consider yourself par to the furniture. 
There isn't a lot to spare. 
Who cares?.. Whatever we've goin we share! 

(During the music,  helps Oliver on with a coat, showing him a place to sit.) 

If it should chance to be 
We should see 
Some harder days 
Empty larder days 
Why grouse? 
Always a chance we'll meet 
Somebody to foot the bill 
Then the drinks are on the house! 

ALL: 
Consider yourself our mate 
We don't want to have no fuss 
For after some consideration, we can state 
Consider yourself one of us! 

(instrumental) 

Consider yourself... 

Fagin and Nancy Audition Script

FAGIN:                    See? Bit of fun, bit of skill. You’ll learn in no time. 

DODGER:               (handing him a coat) Welcome to the team, Oliver. 

NANCY:                  Just don’t snore too loud, or Charlie’ll throw a boot at ya. 

OLIVER:                  (quietly)  Thank you... all of you. 

NANCY:                  (putting a hand on his shoulder)  Stick close, Oliver. I’ll look out for you. 

(The kids gather around chatting as the lights fade.) 

FAGIN:                    Welcome, my dear. We’re all one big happy family here. Aren’t we, boys and girls? 

(The gang cheers and claps.  and Bet enter) 

NANCY:  (to Oliver): Point is, we are a family. Strange, loud, slightly smelly—but loyal. 

OLIVER:                  A family? 

NANCY:                  (softening): We look out for each other, don’t we? 

DODGER:               (puffing his chest): I’d do anything for this lot. 

NANCY:                  Even give up your second crumpet? 

DODGER:               (pauses, then confidently): Alright, maybe not anything. 

                                (grinning, playfully): Oh, anything, is it? Let’s see what you’d really do, Mr. Big Talk. 

NANCY:                  (teasing Dodger): Would you dance on the rooftops? 

DODGER:                With tap shoes or without? 

NANCY:                  (laughing): Would you steal a pie for me? 

NANCY:  He’d steal two if you smiled at him. 

DODGER (flustered):            Right, that’s it! Enough talk! You wanna know what I’d do? 

SONG  - Be Back Soon 

FAGIN: 
You can go but be back soon 
You can go but while you're working, 
Just play some pacing round, 
Until you're home safe and sound 
very well but be back soon 
Who can tell where danger's lurking 
Do not forget this tune, 
Be back soon! 

BOYS: 
How could we forget 
How could we let 
Our dear old Fagin worry 
We love him so we'll come back home 
In a such a great big hurry 
DODGER: 
It's him who plays the piper, 
BOYS: 
It's us that pipes his tune! 
So long fare the well, pip pip cheerio 
We'll be back soon! 
DODGER
I'll do anything
For you dear anything
For you mean everything to me.

I know that
I'll go anywhere
For your smile, anywhere --
For your smile, ev'rywhere --
I'd see.

Would you climb a hill?

DODGER
Anything!

Wear a daffodil?

DODGER
Anything!

Leave me all your will?

DODGER
Anything!

Even fight my Bill?

DODGER
What? Fisticuffs?

I'd risk everything
For one kiss -- everything
Yes, I'd do anything...

Anything?!

DODGER
Anything for you!!

I'll do anything
For you dear, anything
For you mean everything to me

Bill Sykes and Nancy Audition Script

SYKES:                (scanning) All this noise — laughing, singing...  You think this is a game? You think Fagin runs a charity? 

NANCY:             It’s just a song, Bill. The lads need a bit of joy now and then. 

SYKES (to the room):           This what we’re doing now? Games? Dancing? While Fagin’s out there planning the next job? 

NANCY:             (carefully):           They’re just letting off steam, Bill. They’ve done good work. Even you can admit that. 

SYKES:                    I admit nothing.  (Steps closer to Nancy) Fagin might be the brains, but I’m the one who keeps things in line. Without me, that whole operation falls to bits. You know that.  Where is he? 

(Everyone stiffens. No one speaks.) 

SYKES:                (snarling)  Oliver. Where is he? 

NANCY:             He went out on a job. He’s not back yet. 

SYKES:                (shouting)  He’s not coming back! He got caught.  

NANCY:             (softly) No... 

SYKES:                Fagin’s fuming. He trusted that boy. And you— (turns to Nancy) —you were meant to keep him sharp. 

NANCY:             He’s not like the others, Bill. He never was. 

SYKES:                He was ours. Fagin took him in. Fed him. Trained him.  

NANCY:             He’s twelve. What did you expect from him? 

SYKES:                    I expected loyalty. I expected nerves of steel. What I got was some wide-eyed brat getting picked off like a pigeon. 

NANCY:             It’s not his fault. 

SYKES:                (loud)  It is when we pay the price! The second he talks, we all go down. (A heavy pause.) 

SYKES:                    (to Nancy) You fix this. You find out where they’ve taken him. Fagin wants him back before he opens his mouth. 

NANCY:             (firmly):  And what? Drag him back in chains? 

SYKES:               Do what you’re told, Nancy. Or I will. I’m Bill SYKES.  

SONG:  My Name (Bill Sykes)

Strong men tremble when they hear it! 
They've got cause enough to fear it! 
It's much blacker than they smear it! 
Nobody mentions... 
My name! 
Rich men hold their five-pound notes out -- 
Saves me emptying their coats out. 
They know I could tear their throats out 
Just to live up to... 
My name! 
Wiv me 
Jemmy in me hand, 
Lemme see the man who dares 
Stop me. 
Taking what I may 
He can start to say his prayers! 

Biceps like an iron girder, 
Fit for doing of a murder, 
If I just so much as heard a 
Bloke even whisper... 
(spoken) My name! Bill SYKES... 
 

Bet Song - "It’s a Fine Life"

Nancy (singing):

Small pleasures, small pleasures
Who would deny us these?
Gin toddies, large measures —
No skimpin’ if you please!
 

Nancy (singing):
I rough it, I love it
Life is a game of chance.
I never tire of it —
Leading this merry dance!

If you don’t mind having to go without things,
It’s a fine life!

ALL:
It’s a fine life,
Tho' it ain't all jolly old pleasure outings...
It's a fine life

When you got someone to love
You forget your cares and strife
Let the prudes look down on us
Let the wide world frown on us
It's a fine

[ALL]       Fine life!