Little Goody Two Shoes

Little Goody Two Shoes is a play based on The History of Little Goody Two-Shoes, a children's story.

The original text

Published by John Newbery in London in 1765.

Translations and adaptations

The tale was very popular in the virtuous Victorian age, and as a result several versions of the story were transformed into pantomimes. The original moral tale was given a fairytale gloss, and to accommodate the pantomime style soon very little of the original story remained as other essential pantomime characters such as Dame, Fairy, Villain and comedy double-act were introduced along the way. The essentials of the plot however usually involved Goody taking over the estate of a wealthy but wicked local Squire or Baron.

The pantomime, although hugely popular in the 19th century, never really crossed over into the next century with ease.

Pantomime versions of the story include:

Goody Two-Shoes staged at Sadler’s Wells in 1803.

E.L. Blanchard’s Little Goody Two-Shoes: or Harlequin and Cock Robin at Drury Lane 1862.

The Adelphi presented Little Goody Two Shoes: or Harlequin Boy Blue in 1876. This was a children’s pantomime performed entirely by children.

Performances in South Africa

1876: Little Goody Two Shoes presented by Disney Roebuck's United Service Dramatic Company at the Trafalgar Hall, Durban (6 January).

Sources

https://www.its-behind-you.com/storygoodytwoshows.html

Greyvenstein, Walter 1988. The history and development of children's theatre in English in South Africa. Unpublished doctoral dissertation. Johannesburg: Rand Afrikaans University.

Go to ESAT Bibliography