David Copperfield

Playscript for a stage adaptation of Charles Dickens's novel 'David Copperfield' adapted by John Brougham. Part of the Dicks' Standard play series (number 374) such scripts were sold cheaply for one penny and were used for amateur and professional performances of the play. Stage adaptations of Charles Dickens works appeared very quickly after the first few chapters of the part works were published. Theatres employed resident dramatists to adapt the part works for the stage and even predicted how the novel may end before publication, often with surprising results. This version was adapted by John Brougham manager of the Lyceum Theatre in New York. It was first performed at the theatre in January 1851 with Brougham taking the part of Wilkins Micawber. Brougham continued to adapt and produce Dickens's novels throughout his managership of the Lyceum reflecting the popularity of Dickens's works in the USA.