The Master of Thornfieldis a 1954 play by Huntington Hartford, which is an adaptation of Jane Eyre.[1] It was later rewritten by John F. Matthews.[2]
The play marked Errol Flynn's return to the stage after many years.[3]
In 1957 it was announced Errol Flynn would star in a production in the US opposite Jan Brooks directed by Peter Ashmore.[4]
Flynn had not appeared on stage since the 1930s. He was enticed to do so by a large salary, including free accommodation at one of Huntington's houses, and the writer's promise to produce a play that Flynn had written, a adaptation of the 1839 play Richelieu by Edward George Bulwer-Lytton.[3] Flynn was reportedly paid a flat fee of $100,000 plus $1,000 a week expenses.[5]
The play opened in Detroit with a view of bringing it to New York. Variety reported response was "dismal".[6]
Flynn struggled with the show, often forgetting lines.[7] He quit the play in Cincinnati claiming that the play was "no more fit for Broadway than Jack and the Beanstalk... I can't do much with the way its written." Hartford responded that, "In my defence, I'd like to say that I have as yet to hear my play, from Mr Flynn, as it was written."[8] Flynn was replaced by John Emery and Demetrios Vilain replaced Ashmore as director.[5]
Hedda Hopper later wrote that she heard Flynn "just wouldn't study" only rehearsing nine hours in four weeks, and thinking Flynn instead simply wanted to accept a role in The Roots of Heaven.[9]
Eric Portman took over the role of Rochester and the production was renamed Jane Eyre.[10] The production debut in New York on 1 May 1958 and ran for 52 performances.