Nicholas Nickleby- A Farce in 2 Acts – Details, episodes & analysis

Step into the world of Charles Dickens with this lively stage adaptation of his beloved novel, which made its debut in November 1838 at the Adelphi Theater in London. At that time, only eight installments of the story had been published, leading to the omission of key characters like the flamboyant Crummles family, who play a significant role in the later narrative. Notably, the plays ending is an imaginative twist by playwright Edward Stirling, diverging from Dickens original vision. Interestingly, Dickens himself attended a performance featuring the talented comedienne Mary Keeley as Smike, and despite his usual reservations about unauthorized adaptations, he reportedly found great enjoyment in Stirling’s fresh take on Nickleby. (Summary by Kelly Taylor)