Smike
Encyclopedia
Smike is a pop musical
adaptation of a small part of Charles Dickens
' Nicholas Nickleby, that was televised for the BBC
in 1973. The musical is based on the character Smike from that novel. The TV production starred Beryl Reid
as Mrs Squeers, Andrew Keir
as Mr Squeers, Leonard Whiting
as Nicholas, and Ian Sharrock as Smike. The original cast also featured DJ Neil Fox, a pupil at Kingston Grammar, as one of the schoolboys. A cast album was released on Pye records, including the songs from that production, but not all of the songs used in the stage version. The album featured Jill Gascoine
and Oliver Tobias
.
It was originally devised in 1973 at Kingston Grammar School
by two teachers, Simon May
, who became a successful television composer, and Clive Barnett. The songwriting partner was Roger Holman.
Songs include "Don't Let Life Get You Down" and "In the Warm Light of a Brand New Day". "We'll Find Our Day" was recorded by Mark Rattray and Emma Robbins, and featured on the album New Vintage: The Best of Simon May
. Simon May's 1977 album Summer of My Life included "Don't Let Life Get You Down" and "In the Warm Light of a Brand New Day", with the latter also featured on his album Simon's Way
. '"Parents"/"Better Off The Way I Am" was included on May's 2010 compilation album The Simon May Collection
.
A young boy, Smeeton/Smike , sits alone in a class of empty desks. Soon, the rest of the class files in and the Headmaster reads out the Daily Test. The children, however, voice out their reactions to the test (the Headmaster cannot hear them) rather than writing down their answers. At the end of the test, the children hand in their papers to the drama mistress, Miss Grant ("Daily Test Chant") before expressing how they feel about school ("Doing Things By Numbers"). The Headmaster then introduces the class's new English teacher, Mr. Nicholls, before punishing Smeeton who has forgotten to rule a line at the end of his work. The Headmaster and Miss Grant show Nicholls to the book cupboard, leaving the children alone.
Tubby, a bully, taunts Smeeton and a fight starts. Nicholls breaks up the fight, and informs the class they will be looking at Nicholas Nickleby. The children are not happy. Nicholls tells them the story of a young man named Nicholas Nickleby, who is sent by his uncle to teach in a school run by a mean headmaster by the name of Squeers. The children notice that they are in a similar situation, and ask why they should listen to Nicholls, as nobody ever listens to them. ("Here I Am"). The Headmaster and Miss Grant overhear the commotion, and Nicholls explains that he was getting the children interested by turning Nicholas Nickleby into a musical. The Headmaster and Miss Grant are not convinced, but Nicholls explains the character of Squeers to the Headmaster, convincing him to play the part. The Headmaster is a little more convinced, and the children flick through their books to see what characters they can play. It is decided that Miss Grant will play Squeers' daughter, Fanny, and that Smeeton, much to his dismay, will play Smike. Smeeton gives in, but only if Nicholls plays Nicholas Nickleby, which is agreed ("Stop! And Just Think Who You Could Be").
The scene then transforms to The Saracen's Head, a 19th-Century pub. Squeers is in London recruiting pupils for his school, Dotheboys Hall. He is accompanied by three frightened-looking boys. Suddenly, one of them sneezes, and Squeers rounds on him. Richard, the landlord of the Saracen's Head, announces that a gentleman is here to speak to Squeers. Mr. Snawley enters, saying that he wishes to enroll his two sons in Dotheboys Hall. Squeers accepts, and ensures Snawley that he will ensure the boys are in good hands and will achieve the best of their abilities ("We've Got The Youngsters' Interests At Heart").
Ralph Nickleby and his nephew Nicholas Nickleby enter, and Ralph recollects the time that a young boy named Dorker died at Dotheboys Hall. He then changes the subject, having noticed an advertisement in a newspaper for an able assistant to Squeers, and says that Nicholas should apply. At first Squeers objects to this decision, saying that Nicholas is too young and without a college degree, but Ralph reminds Squeers that he did not inform Ralph of Dorker's death until years after he died; thus Ralph must have still been paying Squeers for Dorker's education while he was dead. Squeers changes his mind and employs Nicholas, informing him they will depart for Dotheboys Hall the following morning.
Squeers and Nicholas arrive at the gates at Dotheboys Hall. Squeers calls for Smike, a skinny boy who works as a slave to the Squeers family. He treats Smike poorly before asking him to fetch the luggage. Squeers then introduces Nicholas to his wife, Mrs. Squeers, who helps him run the school. She immediately takes a disliking to Nicholas. Nicholas is then introduced to the Squeers' children, Fanny and Wackford. Squeers tries to show that his family is perfect, but Nicholas knows they are far from it ("Wackford, Fanny, Squeersy And Me").
Squeers then introduces Nicholas to the boys, who look more like sewer rats than human beings. He states that Mrs. Squeers is like a mother to the boys, and that the school is filled with love and charity, but Nicholas can see that the boys are treated poorly ("Dotheboys Hall"). Nicholas is shocked when he sees that the boys are restricted to drinking a jug of water and only when Squeers calls their number ("Doing Thing By Numbers (Reprise)".
Once the boys are sent to bed, Nicholas dines with the Squeers family, unaware that Fanny is attracted to him. Smike, who is serving them dinner, asks Squeers if anything has been heard about him, but is dismissed whilst treated cruelly. Nicholas feels that he is eating a meal that many go without, and Squeers explains that they prepare the boys for a life in the real world. Smike returns, this time with ale, but Squeers considers him lazy for taking his time, and beats Smike until he is left in a heap on the floor. After dinner, Squeers tells Nicholas to sleep in the living room until more permanent arrangements can be made. Nicholas hears Smike reflecting on his situation ("Better Off The Way I Am") and comforts him. Smike explains that he was with Dorker when he died and remembers seeing smiling faces upon Dorker. Smike is troubled that nobody would smile upon him when he dies, and that he will never find his family. Nicholas comforts him, saying there is always hope ("Don't Let Life Get You Down").
Act II
It was also performed by the young persons' theatre school Sands Theatre Arts School at the Old Fire Station Theatre in Oxford
.
It will be performed by St Colmilles B.N.S. in June 2011.
It has also often been performed by Amateur Dramatic Societies around the UK, such as JAYMT (Junior Aberdeen Music Theatre) which was performed May 2008, South-West theatre companies Kingston Vale Operatic and Dramatic Society and NEMCOM.
In 1976 Smike was staged by Bro Pat Taylor and his pupils at Mount Sion C.B.S. Waterford. Ireland. One of the performances was attended by Simon May who sang his hit "Summer of my Life" during the interval of the show.
It was produced as the Senior Campus junior production for year 9 and 10 students at James Hargest College
, Invercargill
and City of London Freemen's School
, Ashtead
in 2010.
Musical theatre
Musical theatre is a form of theatre combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an...
adaptation of a small part of Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens
Charles John Huffam Dickens was an English novelist, generally considered the greatest of the Victorian period. Dickens enjoyed a wider popularity and fame than had any previous author during his lifetime, and he remains popular, having been responsible for some of English literature's most iconic...
' Nicholas Nickleby, that was televised for the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
in 1973. The musical is based on the character Smike from that novel. The TV production starred Beryl Reid
Beryl Reid
Beryl Elizabeth Reid, OBE was a British actress of stage and screen.-Early life:Born in Hereford, England in 1919, Reid was the daughter of Scottish parents and grew up in Manchester where she attended Withington and Levenshulme High Schools.-Career:Reid applied for and was accepted in a revue in...
as Mrs Squeers, Andrew Keir
Andrew Keir
Andrew Keir was a Scottish actor, who rose to prominence featuring in a number of films from Hammer Film Productions in the 1960s. He was also active in television, and particularly in the theatre, in a professional career that lasted from the 1940s to the 1990s...
as Mr Squeers, Leonard Whiting
Leonard Whiting
Leonard Whiting is a British actor who starred as Romeo in the 1968 Zeffirelli film version of Romeo and Juliet opposite Olivia Hussey's Juliet, a role which earned him the Golden Globe Award for New Star Of The Year - Actor....
as Nicholas, and Ian Sharrock as Smike. The original cast also featured DJ Neil Fox, a pupil at Kingston Grammar, as one of the schoolboys. A cast album was released on Pye records, including the songs from that production, but not all of the songs used in the stage version. The album featured Jill Gascoine
Jill Gascoine
Jill Gascoine is a British actress and novelist. She is most widely known for her role as Detective Inspector Maggie Forbes in the 1980s television series The Gentle Touch and its spin-off series C.A.T.S. Eyes...
and Oliver Tobias
Oliver Tobias
Oliver Tobias is a UK-based film, stage, and television actor and directorBorn Oliver Tobias Freitag in Zürich, Switzerland, he is the son of Austrian-Swiss actor Robert Freitag and German actress Maria Becker. He came to the United Kingdom at the age of eight and trained at East 15 Acting School,...
.
It was originally devised in 1973 at Kingston Grammar School
Kingston Grammar School
Kingston Grammar School is an independent co-educational school in Kingston upon Thames, Greater London. The school was founded by Royal Charter in 1561 but can trace its roots back to at least the 13th century. It is a registered charity under English law....
by two teachers, Simon May
Simon May
Simon May is a British musician and composer, best known for composing some of British television's best known theme tunes, including EastEnders and Howards' Way, and for composing the music for the 1988 film The Dawning....
, who became a successful television composer, and Clive Barnett. The songwriting partner was Roger Holman.
Songs include "Don't Let Life Get You Down" and "In the Warm Light of a Brand New Day". "We'll Find Our Day" was recorded by Mark Rattray and Emma Robbins, and featured on the album New Vintage: The Best of Simon May
New Vintage: The Best of Simon May
New Vintage: The Best of Simon May is a 1994 compilation album featuring some of the key works from British film and television music composer Simon May.The album was accompanied by a UK tour, named "A Night Away From the TV"...
. Simon May's 1977 album Summer of My Life included "Don't Let Life Get You Down" and "In the Warm Light of a Brand New Day", with the latter also featured on his album Simon's Way
Simon's Way
Simon's Way is an album by The Simon May Orchestra and released in 1986. Anita Dobson, who also starred in the television show EastEnders sings the theme to the show...
. '"Parents"/"Better Off The Way I Am" was included on May's 2010 compilation album The Simon May Collection
The Simon May Collection
The Simon May Collection is a 2010 compilation album of television and film music written by Simon May.The album was released to coincide with the departure of the character Peggy Mitchell, played by Barbara Windsor, from the BBC soap opera EastEnders...
.
Plot synopsis
Act 1A young boy, Smeeton/Smike , sits alone in a class of empty desks. Soon, the rest of the class files in and the Headmaster reads out the Daily Test. The children, however, voice out their reactions to the test (the Headmaster cannot hear them) rather than writing down their answers. At the end of the test, the children hand in their papers to the drama mistress, Miss Grant ("Daily Test Chant") before expressing how they feel about school ("Doing Things By Numbers"). The Headmaster then introduces the class's new English teacher, Mr. Nicholls, before punishing Smeeton who has forgotten to rule a line at the end of his work. The Headmaster and Miss Grant show Nicholls to the book cupboard, leaving the children alone.
Tubby, a bully, taunts Smeeton and a fight starts. Nicholls breaks up the fight, and informs the class they will be looking at Nicholas Nickleby. The children are not happy. Nicholls tells them the story of a young man named Nicholas Nickleby, who is sent by his uncle to teach in a school run by a mean headmaster by the name of Squeers. The children notice that they are in a similar situation, and ask why they should listen to Nicholls, as nobody ever listens to them. ("Here I Am"). The Headmaster and Miss Grant overhear the commotion, and Nicholls explains that he was getting the children interested by turning Nicholas Nickleby into a musical. The Headmaster and Miss Grant are not convinced, but Nicholls explains the character of Squeers to the Headmaster, convincing him to play the part. The Headmaster is a little more convinced, and the children flick through their books to see what characters they can play. It is decided that Miss Grant will play Squeers' daughter, Fanny, and that Smeeton, much to his dismay, will play Smike. Smeeton gives in, but only if Nicholls plays Nicholas Nickleby, which is agreed ("Stop! And Just Think Who You Could Be").
The scene then transforms to The Saracen's Head, a 19th-Century pub. Squeers is in London recruiting pupils for his school, Dotheboys Hall. He is accompanied by three frightened-looking boys. Suddenly, one of them sneezes, and Squeers rounds on him. Richard, the landlord of the Saracen's Head, announces that a gentleman is here to speak to Squeers. Mr. Snawley enters, saying that he wishes to enroll his two sons in Dotheboys Hall. Squeers accepts, and ensures Snawley that he will ensure the boys are in good hands and will achieve the best of their abilities ("We've Got The Youngsters' Interests At Heart").
Ralph Nickleby and his nephew Nicholas Nickleby enter, and Ralph recollects the time that a young boy named Dorker died at Dotheboys Hall. He then changes the subject, having noticed an advertisement in a newspaper for an able assistant to Squeers, and says that Nicholas should apply. At first Squeers objects to this decision, saying that Nicholas is too young and without a college degree, but Ralph reminds Squeers that he did not inform Ralph of Dorker's death until years after he died; thus Ralph must have still been paying Squeers for Dorker's education while he was dead. Squeers changes his mind and employs Nicholas, informing him they will depart for Dotheboys Hall the following morning.
Squeers and Nicholas arrive at the gates at Dotheboys Hall. Squeers calls for Smike, a skinny boy who works as a slave to the Squeers family. He treats Smike poorly before asking him to fetch the luggage. Squeers then introduces Nicholas to his wife, Mrs. Squeers, who helps him run the school. She immediately takes a disliking to Nicholas. Nicholas is then introduced to the Squeers' children, Fanny and Wackford. Squeers tries to show that his family is perfect, but Nicholas knows they are far from it ("Wackford, Fanny, Squeersy And Me").
Squeers then introduces Nicholas to the boys, who look more like sewer rats than human beings. He states that Mrs. Squeers is like a mother to the boys, and that the school is filled with love and charity, but Nicholas can see that the boys are treated poorly ("Dotheboys Hall"). Nicholas is shocked when he sees that the boys are restricted to drinking a jug of water and only when Squeers calls their number ("Doing Thing By Numbers (Reprise)".
Once the boys are sent to bed, Nicholas dines with the Squeers family, unaware that Fanny is attracted to him. Smike, who is serving them dinner, asks Squeers if anything has been heard about him, but is dismissed whilst treated cruelly. Nicholas feels that he is eating a meal that many go without, and Squeers explains that they prepare the boys for a life in the real world. Smike returns, this time with ale, but Squeers considers him lazy for taking his time, and beats Smike until he is left in a heap on the floor. After dinner, Squeers tells Nicholas to sleep in the living room until more permanent arrangements can be made. Nicholas hears Smike reflecting on his situation ("Better Off The Way I Am") and comforts him. Smike explains that he was with Dorker when he died and remembers seeing smiling faces upon Dorker. Smike is troubled that nobody would smile upon him when he dies, and that he will never find his family. Nicholas comforts him, saying there is always hope ("Don't Let Life Get You Down").
Song list
Act I- The Daily Test (Headmaster & Boys)
- Doing Things By Numbers (Boys)^^
- Here I Am (Nicholls & Boys)fliiin.
- Stop! And Just Think Who You Could Be... (Boys)^
- We've Got The Youngsters' Interests At Heart (Squeers & Snawley)
- Wackford, Fanny, Squeersy And Me (Squeers, Mrs. Squeers, Fanny & Wackford)^^
- Dotheboys Hall (Squeers, Mrs. Squeers & Boys)
- Doing Things By Numbers [Reprise] (Boys)^^
- Better Off The Way I Am (Smike)^^
- Don't Let Life Get You Down (Nicholas & Boys)
Act II
- In the Warm Light Of A Brand New Day (Smike)
- Dotheboys Rock (Bolder & Boys)
- Brimstone And Treacle (Mrs. Squeers & Boys)
- Your Kind Of Woman (Mrs. Squeers & Nicholas)^^
- We'll Find Our Day (Fanny & Nicholas)
- Here I Am [Reprise] (Nicholas & Boys)
- Don't Let Life Get You Down/In The Warm Light Of A Brand New Day [Reprise] (Smeeton & Boys)
- Believe (Nicholls & Boys)^^
- ^The song "Stop! And Just Think Who You Could Be" has an optional additional verse for productions with both boys and girls.
- ^^These songs were not in the original BBC 1973 production. The song "Dotheboys Hall" occurred in the Saracen's Head scene in the BBC production, before "We've Got The Youngster's Interests At Heart".
Productions
The show has subsequently been staged many times by youth drama groups and amateur dramatic societies around the UK. Kingston Grammar School again produced it in December 2005.It was also performed by the young persons' theatre school Sands Theatre Arts School at the Old Fire Station Theatre in Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
.
It will be performed by St Colmilles B.N.S. in June 2011.
It has also often been performed by Amateur Dramatic Societies around the UK, such as JAYMT (Junior Aberdeen Music Theatre) which was performed May 2008, South-West theatre companies Kingston Vale Operatic and Dramatic Society and NEMCOM.
In 1976 Smike was staged by Bro Pat Taylor and his pupils at Mount Sion C.B.S. Waterford. Ireland. One of the performances was attended by Simon May who sang his hit "Summer of my Life" during the interval of the show.
It was produced as the Senior Campus junior production for year 9 and 10 students at James Hargest College
James Hargest College
James Hargest College is a large school of about 1800 students, in Invercargill, New Zealand. The majority of students are New Zealand European, but there are some Māori and Asians. The school caters for students from year 7-13....
, Invercargill
Invercargill
Invercargill is the southernmost and westernmost city in New Zealand, and one of the southernmost cities in the world. It is the commercial centre of the Southland region. It lies in the heart of the wide expanse of the Southland Plains on the Oreti or New River some 18 km north of Bluff,...
and City of London Freemen's School
City of London Freemen's School
City of London Freemen's School is a coeducational independent school for day and boarding pupils, located at Ashtead Park in Surrey, England. It is the sister school of the City of London School and the City of London School for Girls, which are both independent single-sex schools located within...
, Ashtead
Ashtead
Ashtead is a village situated within the Metropolitan Green Belt of Surrey, England, and is just outside of the suburbia of London. It is separated from Leatherhead by the M25, and from Epsom by Ashtead Common.- History :...
in 2010.
External links
- Smike The Musical Official website, with many music clips and information about the show
- Music On Screen Official website, with many music clips
- Music Theatre International: Smike