J. M. Barrie 
Quality Street (Annotated) 

• This edition includes the following editor’s introduction: The traumatic life of J. M. Barrie, source of universal creativity

Originally published in 1901, “Quality Street” (
AKA Quality Street: A Comedy) is a comedy in four acts by Scottish author J. M. Barrie, written before his more famous work
Peter Pan. The comedy is an adult fairy tale of sorts, brought to life by Barrie’s charming imagination and ability to weave between reality and fantasy.

The original Broadway production opened in 1901 and ran for only 64 performances. The show was then produced in London, where it was a hit, running for 459 performances.



“Quality Street” tells the story of Pheobe Throssel and Valentine Brown, a young couple separated by the Neopoleonic wars. Ten years pass when Valentine returns to
Quality Street as a celebrated captain, and he is greeted by a more mature, less glamorous Phoebe. When Phoebe sees the disappointment in Valentine’s face, she is emboldened to create a younger alter-ego named Miss Livvy. Phoebe, disguised as Miss Livvy, begins to attend balls and relive her youthful glory days. As she rekindles her romance with Valentine, can she juggle both personas or will her deception ruin her reputation forever?