From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Drawing of Seymour Hicks as Valentine Brown

Quality Street is a comedy in four acts by J. M. Barrie. It opened at the Knickerbocker Theatre in New York on November 11, 1901, produced by Charles Frohman and starring Maude Adams, but ran for only a modestly successful 64 performances. It then opened at the Vaudeville Theatre in London on 17 September 1902 and ran for a very successful 459 performances, starring Ellaline Terriss and Seymour Hicks, making it one of the first American productions to score a bigger triumph in London than in New York. The piece then enjoyed numerous revivals and tours.

When Hicks and Terriss moved to a new home, The Old Forge, at Merstham, Surrey, their cul-de-sac was renamed "Quality Street".^[1]

Setting: In Napoleonic times. The story is about two sisters who start a school "for genteel children."

• Valentine Brown - Suitor of Miss Phoebe – Seymour Hicks
• Miss Phoebe Throssel - A School Mistress – Ellaline Terris
• Miss Livvy - Alter ego of Phoebe – Ellaline Terris
• Ensign Blades - A Young Officer – A. Vane Tempest
• Lieutenant Spicer - A Young Officer – Vincent Sternroyd
• Susan Throssell - Sister to Phoebe – Marion Terry
• Patty - Maid-of-all-work in service of the Throssell sisters – Rosini Filippi
• Recruiting Sergeant – George Shelton
• A Waterloo Veteran – Charles Daly
• A Gallant –
• Arthur Wellesley Tomson – George Hersee
• Miss Willoughby – Henrietta Watson
• Miss Fanny Willoughby – Irene Rooke
• Miss Henrietta Turnbull – Constance Hyem
• Miss Charlotte Parratt – May Taverner
• Isabella – Winifred Hall
• Harriett – Edith Heslewood

Act 1 - There is heightened anticipation as the local gossips of the town discuss the developing relationship between Miss Pheobe Throssel and Valentine Brown. Pheobe then confesses to her sister, Susan, that Brown intends to drop by later that day, and both are certain he means to propose. When he finally does appear, it is not to ask for Pheobe's hand in marriage but to announce his intention to join the fight in Europe against Napoleon. This leaves the girls devastated.

Act 2 - Ten years after the departure of Brown, we find the girls have set-up a school in order to 'pay the rent.' Pheobe has not accepted any other suitor and allowed herself to become an 'Old Maid' and school mistress. Pheobe, however, longs for her youth, and the return of Captain Brown only deepens her melancholy. "I am tired of being lady-like," she declares. With some encouragement from her maid, Patty, she creates the fictional character of Miss Livvy, a more energetic, flirtatious and naughty version of her younger self, and begins to tease Captain Brown who, captivated by her, persuades her and Susan to accompany him to the ball.

Act 3 - It is the scene of the ball, and Pheobe is still playing the part of Miss Livvy. In this guise, she has captured the eyes of many of the young men and the scorn of ladies. However, Phoebe is now annoyed that Brown seems to prefer this unsubstantial 'young' flirt that she has created to her true personality and qualities. Her actions cause events to come to a head as her act is almost brought to light by the local gossiping girls Fanny Willoughby and Henrietta Turnbull. In a final confrontation with Captain Brown, we discover that he has found his love for Miss Pheobe and not for Miss Livvy, as he insists that "I have discovered for myself that the schoolmistress in her old maid's cap is the noblest Miss Phoebe of them all."

Act 4 - Miss Livvy still hangs heavy over the sisters: having been created, she is now difficult to dispose of. The local gossips watch for any sign of Miss Livvy and frequently visit the sisters' home. Brown comes to ask for Pheobe’s hand and is turned down without explanation. As a result, he becomes aware of the disguise and the sisters' plight and sets out to right all wrongs, even his own.

• Information about the Broadway production
• Review, cast list, photos of the London production