It certainly is. With a book, and music and lyrics, by the era’s one-time
wunderkind, Lionel Bart, “Oliver!” received 23 curtain calls opening night and
sailed on for six years in London’s West End. Then it became a Broadway hit and
there was a very successful film, too.
Later on, producer Cameron Macintosh took over and ran successful revivals.
Many theater fans loved “Oliver!” for its gutsy, and plucky, drive. It’s wistful
happy ending helped, too.