NORWICH – There’s an old adage in the art of acting that warns against sharing a scene with animals or children. While you won’t see any farm animals on stage this weekend, there certainly will be plenty of kids. “It’s a great family show,” laughed director Mark Sands from amid the throng of youngsters clamoring for his attention backstage at a recent rehearsal.

The NHS Musical Club will present “Oliver,” the musical adaptation of the Charles Dickens tale “Oliver Twist,” on Friday and Saturday nights at 7:30 and Sunday afternoon at 3 in the high school auditorium.

One of the more unique aspects of staging “Oliver” as a high school musical is that it doesn’t necessarily involve all high schoolers. Aside from the title character, there’s a legion of young orphans and pickpockets dotting the stage. Of the 37 students in the cast, Sands said, about a dozen are middle schoolers.

Mixing the older kids with the young has been quite a challenge for the Norwich cast. How to describe the experience? “Pandemonium,” junior Chris Kappel, who plays Fagin, said in a word. But, he added, involving the (even) younger generation is essential in building the team. “It’s exciting because we get to incorporate them sooner and expand who’s involved in the club,” Kappel said.