Oliver Twist
Oliver Twist is the popular name for the famous novel by Charles Dickens (1812-1870)[1], and for a large number of adaptations for performance over the centuries.
Contents
The original novel
This was Charles Dickens's second novel and was originally published with the title Oliver Twist, or the Parish Boy's Progress as a serial from 1837 to 1839 and as a three-volume book in 1838. It tells the story of the orphan Oliver Twist, born in a workhouse and sold into apprenticeship with an undertaker. After escaping, Oliver travels to London, where he meets the "Artful Dodger", a member of a gang of juvenile pickpockets led by the elderly criminal Fagin.
Adaptations for the stage
Numerous adaptations of Oliver Twist, under a range of titles, have been done for various media since its original publication (see the Wikipedia entry on "Oliver Twist" for example[2]). Listed below are all the versions performed in South Africa.
In 1838 Charles Zachary Barnett's adaptation, the three-act burletta Oliver Twist; or, The Parish Boy's Progress opened at the Marylebone Theatre in London .[35] Oliver!, a West End theatre stage musical adaptation by Lionel Bart.[36] Oliver Twist is a 2017 stage adaptation of the novel written by Anya Reiss which premiered at the Regent's Park Theatre. The show was directed by Caroline Byrne.[37]
Oliver Twist by an anonymous author (late 1860s)
Performance history of all versions in South Africa
1876: A piece called Oliver Twist (in an unidentified adaptation of the Dickens novel) was performed by the Disney Roebuck company, under the management of Charles Wilstone in the Athenaeum Hall, Cape Town, on 20 October, with Jenny Lind (Anon), as benefit for Mr W. Foulis and Mrs Foulis.
Sources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oliver_Twist
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.343, 347
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