The Moth and the Flame began its life on the stage with Fitch's earlier one act play The Harvest which was given its premiere performance by the Theatre of Arts and Letters company at the Fifth Avenue Theatre on Broadway on January 26, 1893.
[1] This play told the story of a bride who discovers during her wedding ceremony that her husband-to-be has fathered a child out of wedlock with another woman.
[3] The premiere production was directed by Daniel Frohman and performed by the Herbert Kelcey—Effie Shannon Theatre Company with Shannon in the role of Marion Wolton and Kelcey as Fletcher;[4] roles which these actors had portrayed earlier in The Harvest.
[5] The Moth and the Flame received mixed reviews from critics, but was a popular and financial success.
The Kelecey and Shannon Theatre Company toured the play nationally for many years.