Sag Harbor

   James A. Herne's last play, a four-act comedy, opened on 24 October 1899 at Boston's Park Theatre for 107 performances, after which it played for 76 performances at New York's Republic Theatre beginning on 27 September 1900. Critics noted similarities between this play and Herne's earlier Hearts of Oak (1880) and were mixed on its merits, but Herne's performance as Captain Dan Marble was applauded and the influence of producer David Belasco was acknowledged in the realism of the visual aspects. Brothers Ben and Frank Turner vie for the affections of Martha Reese. She is in love with Frank, but marries Ben out of a sense of duty. Frank leaves, but returns two years later and persuades Martha to run away with him. Before they do, wise old Captain Marble tells them of the tragic consequences of a similar situation, persuading them to accept their circumstances. Sag Harbor provided Lionel Barrymore with one of his earliest roles as Frank, and Herne's daughter, Chrystal Herne, was also in the cast.