The Notorious Mrs. Ebbsmith

It was first produced on 13 March 1895 at the Garrick Theatre, with Mrs Patrick Campbell playing the lead role of Agnes Ebbsmith.

He suggests a sham reconciliation between Lucas and his wife, and for Agnes, "The suburban villa, the little garden, a couple of discreet servants—everything à la mode."

Lucas makes a last effort to join with Agnes, and resume their "free love" life, but Agnes has had enough; she thought she was a leader, a moral example, who would show the world "how men and woman may live independent and noble lives without rule, guidance or sacrament", but she proved weak and corruptible.

John Hare revived the play at Abbey's Theatre, New York in 1896, with Julia Neilson in the title role.

It was not well received – The New York Times called it "smart, ingenious but disliked" – and was quickly replaced by other plays in the repertory of Hare's company.

[2] The play was then revived in the West End by Mrs Patrick Campbell (who also reprised her original role), the production opening at London's Royalty Theatre on 27 February 1901.

Reviewing the production in The Guardian, Michael Billington described the work as "a flawed but intriguing curiosity" and said "the play is worth reviving if only because it demonstrates Pinero's desire to run with the commercial hare while hunting with the intellectual hounds".