Little Nell

Little Nell is the title of a play by

The original text

Based on the main character in the novel The Old Curiosity Shop by Charles Dickens (published serially from 1840 to 1841), which tells the story of Nell Trent ("Little Nell") and her grandfather, both residents of The Old Curiosity Shop in London. Portrayed as infallibly good and angelic, she takes her grandfather on a journey to save them from misery. She gradually becomes weaker as they go on and finally finds a home with the help of the schoolmaster. However it is too late and she sickens and dies before her friends in London find her.

The novel was so popular that New York readers stormed the wharf when the ship bearing the final instalment arrived in 1841. Wikipedia

Translations and adaptations

Performance history in South Africa

1882: Performed as part of a season of plays in the Theatre Royal, Burg Street, Cape Town, by Mabel Hayes (billed as Mrs R.J. Hall) and her company.

Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Old_Curiosity_Shop

D.C. Boonzaier, 1923. "My playgoing days – 30 years in the history of the Cape Town stage", in SA Review, 9 March and 24 August 1932. (Reprinted in Bosman 1980: pp. 374-439.)

F.C.L. Bosman. 1980. Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel II, 1856-1912. Pretoria: J.L. van Schaik: pp.203-205

Go to ESAT Bibliography