Credited with being the first theatrical adaptation of Charles Dickens' celebrated novel, "Oliver Twist or The Parish Boy's Progress" was originally produced in May of 1838 shortly after the novel was published. Opening at London's Pavilion Theatre, which was know for its crude melodramas, the play did not disappoint. With its large cast and its 21 scenes, the play was truly a theatrical extravaganza thrilling audiences. Emphasizing the crude and violent nature of its characters, the play uses every known theatrical device of its time to create this grand melodrama of the Victorian stage.