There appear to be two plays by this title, both based on Mr Barnes of New York, a popular novel by Archibald Clavering Gunter (1847-1907)[1] and both premiering in 1888.

The novel

Mr Barnes of New York, was the first novel written by Gunter and was self-published in 1887 in New York by the Home Publishing Company, going on to sell a . It tells of the European travels and adventures of Burton H. Barnes, including a romance with an English girl and involvement in a Corsican vendetta.

Besides two stage versions, two silent film versions were also made of the novel, one in 1914 and another in 1922.

Mr Barnes of New York by Archibald Clavering Gunter (1888)

Gunter was himself a playwright and adapted his novel as a stage play which made its debut in 1888 at the Broadway Theatre in New York, opening on October 15 and playing through to 1 December.

Performance history in South Africa

Mr Barnes of New York by Hal Collier-Edwards (1888)

Apparently a British version, adapted by Hal Collier-Edwards ()[] this play first opened at the Marlybone Theatre, London, on 23 June, 1888, and had another run at the Novelty Theatre, London, in 1891 (4-11 April).

Performance history in South Africa

1891: Performed as part of a season of plays put on in the Vaudeville Theatre, Cape Town, by a newly founded scratch company. In this production, "Marina" was performed by Lilla Wilde.

Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr._Barnes_of_New_York

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archibald_Clavering_Gunter

J.P. Wearing. 2013. The London Stage 1890-1899: A Calendar of Productions, Performers, and Personnel. (Second, revised edition, p. 60). [2]

D.C. Boonzaier, 1923. "My playgoing days – 30 years in the history of the Cape Town stage", in SA Review, 9 March and 24 August 1932. (Reprinted in Bosman 1980: pp. 374-439.)

F.C.L. Bosman. 1980. Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel II, 1856-1912. Pretoria: J.L. van Schaik: pp.391

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