THE BLACK CAT.
A PLAY IN THREE ACTS BY
JOHN TODHUNTER.
FIRST ACTED AT
THE INDEPENDENT THEATRE IN LONDON.


LONDON: HENRY AND CO. 93, ST. MARTIN'S LANE, W.C. 1895

_Printed by Hazell, Watson, & Viney, Ld., London and Aylesbury._




Preface.


Mr. Grein has asked me to write a preface to THE BLACK CAT.
I cannot myself see much occasion for this. Why should an author be
called upon to make a speech before the curtain? Because, I presume,
people want to have something to talk about besides the play itself,
and an author must surely have "views." Well, it is a day of
views--and of talk.

THE BLACK CAT was produced at the Opera Comique on December
8th, 1893, at one of the Independent Theatre Society's performances.
It had a certain _succès d'estime_ before a special audience, for
whom, however, it was not written; and it has not been performed
since.