Hearts of Oak is an 1879 play by Americans James Herne and David Belasco taken from the British play, The Mariner's Compass, by Henry Leslie (1830–1881).
The play is a melodrama[1] concerning a woman who marries her guardian out of gratitude, even though she loves another man. It was extraordinarily successful on tour, starring Belasco, and earning a fortune for him. Hearts of Oaks first opened as a five act and six tableaux production at the Hamlin's Theatre in Chicago on November 17, 1879.[2] The actress Chrystal Herne was named after the character her mother, Katherine Corcoran, portrayed in the piece.[3]
| Opening Night Players | Role | |
|---|---|---|
| James A. Herne | Terry Dennison | |
| Harry Mainhall | Ruby Darell | |
| William H. Crompton | Uncle Davy | |
| David Belasco | Mr. Ellingham | |
| Frank K. Pierce | Owen Garroway | |
| William A. Lavalle | Foreman of the Mill | |
| William Lawrence | Clerk of the Mill | |
| Lillie Hamilton | Wil Barton | |
| Katherine Corcoran (Mrs. Herne) | Chrystal | |
| Rose Watson | Aunt Betsy | |
| Alice Hamilton | Little Chrystal | |
| Dolly Hamilton | Tawdrey | |
| J.A. Andrews | Mr. Parker | |
| J. Sherman | Tom | |
| T. Gossman | Sleuth | |
| Unknown Female Child | The Baby |
The Daily Globe, St. Paul, Minnesota – January 23, 1882
The Hearts of Oak company began an engagements of four performances at Leubrie’s theater last night. They may be congratulated. The company has been improved and strengthened since last season and is now equal to any presenting dramas of like character on the road. Jas. A Hearne (sic) who replaces Frank Aiken as Terry Dennison is a type of the simple sailor who sacrifices his own hopes for happiness of the object of his love. His acting is spirited and perfect in keeping with the character. The strength of his love for Chrystal shown in his discovery of the affection existing between her and Ruby is faithfully and strongly portrayed. And in the scene with his child, to whom he dares not make himself known, his acting is worthy of the warmest praise. The restraint that his noble self-denying heart places as the barrier between himself and the fruition of his parental love – the blind man casting off for others all hope for the future in the care for wife and child was true to nature in delineation though unfortunately too elevated for nature in fact. Harry Mainhal was an excellent Ruby Darell and Catherine Corcoran a charming and natural Chrystal. Mr. Charles H. Clark (Uncle Davy) and F. Chippendale (Owen Garroway) deserve favorable mention. The Latter in the supper scene aroused a storm of laughter by his vicarious hospitality and awkwardness[5]
The Michigan Argonaut, March, 1883
Herne's Hearts of Oak drew one of the largest audiences of the season at the Opera House Wednesday evening. The play is well named for surely none, but Hearts of Oak could stand the intense strain which finally did cause one heart to break. The shipwrecked orphan-girl in real life, who marries her protector out of a sense of duty, though desperately in love with one more equal in age, is an extremely rare and interesting object. The company was good from first to last. Herne, as Terry Dennison, played an unexceptional role. Miss Corcoran as Crystal, did justice to a difficult part, and was especially effective in the scene in the grave with Ruby. Uncle Davy and Aunt Betsey, ably assisted by Owen Garroway, caused many cunning side scenes which served to relieve the deep melancholy that pervades the whole play. Little Maud Thompson as Little Crystal is a "daisy," and we predict a brilliant future for her. The scenic effects, especially in the wreck scene, demand a large stage for their best representation, but were quite effective. The play does not follow the canons of Horace, having six acts. The interludes were rather too long, but the audience endured them each time with sweet anticipation of the treat to follow.[6]
Two film adaptions were made: