Watch Oliver!

In this charming musical adaptation of Charles Dickens' classic novel Oliver Twist, a small orphan boy named Oliver is confronted with many mean-spirited and abusive people on his journey to the remnants of his true family. The orphanage in which he has been living for his entire life is a grim background for starving boys who work all day and receive very little in return. Thrown out simply for asking for more food, Oliver is sold to an undertaker. After being tormented by the undertaker's children, he lashes out and is thrown out onto the streets.

Seemingly a kindred spirit, the Artful Dodger is a young boy around Oliver's age who convinces him that he will be considered family among him and his fellow pickpockets, a gang run by an old man named Fagin. Fagin teaches him and the rest of the boys in the gang that pickpocketing is the only worthy way to live life, refuting the idea of working tirelessly to earn a meager living. Oliver travels out in the morning with the other boys, and is promptly caught by the first person he attempt to steal from. He is taken to court and accused, and although he should be punished, he is taken in by his accuser, who expresses sympathy to him. This is discovered by Fagin, who tries to get Oliver back, for the man who took him in is a very rich man and worth many, many pockets.

Along with the notorious criminal Bill Sikes and his beautiful, street-smart girlfriend Nancy, Fagin tracks down where Oliver has been staying. Oliver, however, strikingly resembles his new caretaker's late niece, in a way that cannot be ignored by the household. Oliver is, however, coerced into participating in a house robbery by Sikes, though Oliver botches the attempt. Some decide to retain their own lifestyles, some lose their lives entirely, and Oliver finds solace with his true family.