General John Regan (play)
General John Regan is a comedy play by the Irish writer George A. Birmingham. A confidence trickster convinces a small Irish town that a statue ought to be erected to one of its natives who is claimed to have led the independence movement of a South American country, closely modelled on Bernardo O'Higgins. It premiered at the Apollo Theatre in London on 8 January 1913 where it had a long run. Its American premiere was at the Hudson Theatre in New York on 13 November 1913. It received good reviews from critics, and was commercially successful . When it was first staged at Westport, Ireland it provoked a riot as the crowd objected to the depiction of what they felt was a mocking representation of their town (where the writer served as an Anglican clergyman). Adaptations. The play has been adapted to film several times. In 1921 a silent version "General John Regan" was made. In 1933 a sound version "General John Regan" was made starring Henry Edwards and Chrissie White.