LITTLE NELL AND THE MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE
                              
                                  is published by

          THEATREFOLK

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​www.theatrefolk.com/products/little-nell-and-the-mortgage-foreclosure

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​           Customer Comments and Reviews

I adore Little Nell and the Mortgage Foreclosure.
It's clever and easy to mount so stuff doesn't get in the way of the posturing and plot, and has twists to bring it into the 21st century.

Thank you for trying to bring it back by giving it a facelift and jokes everyone can understand. My actors found your dialogue easy to master because it makes sense and flows.

                 Toni Owen, Benicia Old Town Theatre Group


"Little Nell and the Mortgage Foreclosure Turned Out Swell!" "The first play, "Little Nell and the Mortgage Foreclosure" was definitely superior to the second. ... It was like watching a classic episode of "Happy Days" and then following it with "Joanie Loves Chachi."

                 Benicia Daily Republic, October 23, 2007


"The production was a hit. All the families and friends that came to see it raved about it and the students. The audience was laughing through the whole performance."

                   Director, Christian Academy production.


“MONDAY NOVEMBER 9 AND TUESDAY NOVEMBER 10 [2015]: Little Nell and the Mortgage Foreclosure. Back by popular demand! This well-known American melodrama [written by John Donald O’Shea] sold out last year, and the cast is back and raring to entertain you. Nell and her Auntie Nora are about to lose the family homestead to a crooked banker, Wiley Whiplash. Here, Casey Cleandeed,
swoops in to save the day. There is just one problem - he’s not very bright ....

             Casa Haas, Mazatlan Film and Theater, Houston, TX

        A BRIEF EXCERPT

Whiplash. (To audience) Now is the time for Wiley  Whiplash to recoup his fortunes. I have been brought to the abyss of poverty by the failure of my Savings and Loan business, and Nell’s Sexual Harassment Law Suit.  But if I can lay hands on Nell's farm and the pool of oil under it, I shall be returned to the standard of living to which I had become accustomed... (He laughs an evil laugh.) 
 
(Wiley removes a razor from his bag and shaves his mustache. He then removes his hat and coat, and takes a skimmer hat and a striped sports coat from the case he carries and puts them on, replacing the “traditional” villains garb. Lastly, he removes a bible  [prop] from his bag and carries it in his hand)      
             
Whiplash. But first we shall see if clothes do indeed make the man! (Wiley knocks. But the sound of the knock is late.)                                     
             
 
Nell.  (Who is busy in the kitchen)   Do I hear a knock on the door? 
 
(He knocks again. Again the sound is late again.) 
             
Nell.  Yes. I do hear a knock on the door. (She crosses to open front door) 
 
Whiplash.  (Entering a just a step)  Good morning, Miss Pureheart. (aside to audience)    Note that I've even changed my after shave. 
 
Nell.  Good morning! ... gasp! (Aside)    His manly beauty -- not to  mention his after shave  ---  quickens my erstwhile placid heart. 
 
Whiplash.  May I come in? (Aside)   Note the deeper, more resonant masculine voice. 
 
Nell.  Why, yes... (aside, as Nell crosses down stage center)    How deep and resonant his voice is! (to Wiley)    By  all means.  (Aside)   And yet  ... I am certain I have heard it before ...  under more sinister circumstances. 
 
Whiplash.  Do you not recognize me, Nell? 
 
Nell.  (Nell turns to face him)    Why, no, Sir .... Should I? 
 
Whiplash.  It is I, Nell .... Wiley Whiplash. 
 
Nell.  (She recoils a step) (Aside)  Has he come for revenge? (To him) Wiley Whiplash? (Aside)  Why do my thoughts suddenly recur to the old saw mill along the river? (To him)  I did not recognize you. (Aside)  How he is transfigured. I wonder if he's single? 
 
Whiplash.  How are you? ...  How's Casey? 
 
Nell.  Casey? Casey who? ... But where is your mustache? Your cape? Your stove pipe hat? Your white socks? 
 
Whiplash.  Gone, Nell. Gone forever. I have reformed. 
                                     
Nell.  Reformed? (Aside)  How I am forever drawn to virtue. 
 
Whiplash.  When I lost the Savings and Loan, I befriended John Barleycorn.  
 
Nell. How splendid!  In a time of troubles, we all need good friends. 

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​         

     Little Nell and the Mortgage  Foreclosure

            Theatrefolk Description

Little Nell and the Mortgage Foreclosure is a delightful melodrama replete with broad comedy, memorable characters, and plenty of booing and hissing for the stovepipe-hat-wearing villain!

A modern “old fashioned melodrama.” Fast paced. Clever. Utterly unpredictable. Perfect for Junior High, High School or Community Theater. A play that asks the eternal question, “Can a villain ever truly reform?” The play follows a side-splitting trail of intrigue and deception until ....

                                 Unit set. Simple to stage.

                         One-Act by: John Donald O'Shea

                                           Cast: 2 M, 3 F

    Performance Time: Approximately 45 minutes, 30 pgs.


                        SYNOPSIS

Nell Pureheart and her wise old Auntie Nora are about to lose the family homestead to unscrupulous banker Wiley Whiplash. Whiplash will forgive the mortgage if Nell will marry him and deed the farm to him!

In the nick of time, Casey Cleandeed  returns, a newly-minted - albeit not too bright -  attorney. Casey's suit for "sexual harassment," however, brings Wiley to the brink of ruin.

But then - eschewing the railroad tracks and the saw mill - Wiley "reforms," woos an all too gullible Nell, and brings her to the brink of matrimony and ruin.

Then once again, it's Casey's turn to save Nell. But preoccupied with his campaign for the Vice Presidency of the United States, Casey is oblivious to Wiley's machinations and Nell's predicament.

Is there any hope for Nell?  Can Wiley be thwarted?
Is their really a pool of oil under Nell's farm? Is it possible
that Aunt Nora is a better lawyer than Casey?

Read the free preview and find out!


                  Cast of Characters



Nell Pureheart .............................. The Heroine


Aunt Nora ...................................... Nell’s Wise old Auntie

Wiley Whiplash ............................. The Villain, and evil doer

Gideann Byball (Gideon, if male) .... The Nell’s Farm Hand

Casey Cleandeed ............................ The Hero and a Lawyer


           

              MUSICAL VERSION


For a musical version of Little Nell and the Mortgage Foreclosure, see “The Proud and Haughty Beauty” at
                 http://www.playscriptsplace.com

Benicia Old Town Theatre Group’s Production

Mercy Academy Production 

Alleman Catholic Highschool Production

Seton Catholic Junior High

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A Senior Citizen Production