The Enchanted Cottage is a 1920 play by the British writer Arthur Wing Pinero, who called it a fable in three acts. It has a single setting, with nine speaking characters. The story concerns a maimed young officer and a dowdy village girl, who marry and find love in spite of their afflictions, after undergoing a disillusionment. The action of the play spans one month in Spring 1919. Hitherto known for realism, Pinero's mysticism in this play was compared unfavorably by critics to the works of J. M. Barrie.

The play was first produced in London's West End by Owen Nares and B. A. Myer, in association with Philip Michael Faraday, during March 1922. The author himself staged the production. It had original incidental music composed by Sir Frederic Cowen. Owen Nares and Laura Cowie starred, with Nicholas Hannen and Jean Cadell in support. It ran through April 1922, when Faraday had to give up tenancy of the theatre in which it played.

In North America the play was produced by William A. Brady in association with the Shuberts. Brady's son William A. Brady Jr helped Jessie Bonstelle stage it. The Enchanted Cottage had two brief tryouts, in Providence, Rhode Island, and Detroit, during late September and early October 1922. These tryouts starred Jessie Bonstelle and her company. The Broadway premiere occurred in late March 1923, starring Katharine Cornell and Noel Tearle, with Gilbert Emery and Clara Blandick in support. It ran through May of that year for 65 performances.

The Enchanted Cottage was adapted for films of the same title in 1924, 1945, and 2016.

Characters For clarity, only "real" characters are listed, in order of appearance within their scope. Dream characters, whom Pinero refers to as "shadows", are present only in Laura's vision during the final part of Act II and have no lines.

Lead Laura Pennington is starkly plain and awkward; a poor young woman of the local village, but gentle and generous. Lt. Oliver Bashforth is a well-off young man, maimed in body and spirit during the Great War, who seeks solitude. Supporting Mrs. Minnett is 35, Oliver's housekeeper, prematurely aged and grown eccentric since her husband died in the war. Maj. Murray Hillgrove, DSO, MC, is a veteran, blinded at Vimy Ridge in April 1917, who befriends Oliver and Laura. Featured Rev. Charles Corsellis is rector of the local parish, an elderly cleric, poor as a church mouse. Mrs. Corsellis is small and frail, clad in worn clothes; she is mother to seven children. Mrs. Smallwood is Oliver's mother, a loud insensitive woman who cannot bear to see him isolated. Rupert Smallwood is Oliver's pompous step-father. Rigg is a former soldier, who lost his right arm in the war; he is now the Major's servant and guide.Their relationship is more mutually beneficial than it might appear. With the end of wartime production and so many recently demobilized soldiers, there are few employment opportunities for a one-armed man. Ethel is Oliver's older step-sister with an enormous nose; though "real", she appears only in the dream sequence. Bit players Two Witches, Three Married Couples, Three Bridesmaids, Cherubs, Imps, Children

Synopsis All action occurs within a cottage on the edge of an estate park in Sussex. The cottage is very old, and gives the impression of once having been part of a grander building. The time is Spring 1919. The former soldiers wear civilian clothes except during the dream sequence of Act II.

Act I: Relics of War (A Spring morning.) Oliver has taken a cottage away from his family, friends and past life. He loathes his injuries and especially the loss of his good humor to anger and neurosis. Rigg being away on an errand, Laura guides Major Hillgrove to the cottage, where Mrs. Minnett fetches Oliver to meet them. The Major has regaled Laura with village gossip about Mrs. Minnett being a bit eerie since her bereavement. Despite Oliver's neurotic state and perpetually aching wounds, he realizes Hillgrove is worse off, and for a little while at least comes out of his self-absorption. But after Hillgrove leaves, Oliver is beset by his mother and stepfather. Mrs. Smallwood wants Oliver to accept the Rev. Corsellis as his guardian. When Oliver rejects that idea, she insists Oliver's older sister Ethel, whom he loathes for her large nose and shrewish ways, come live with him and Mrs. Minnett. After they leave, Oliver is desperate to forestall having Ethel pushed onto him. He proposes to Laura, suggesting she would be a fitting wife for a maimed man. Laura demurs, rebuking him for his rudeness; ugly girls have dreams too, she scolds. Oliver persists, following her out of the cottage. Mrs. Minnett suddenly raises her hands and cackles alarmingly. (Curtain)

Act II: Strange Happenings, and a Dream (A month later, 9:30 pm.) Rigg guides the Major, who has been away for two weeks, into Oliver's cottage. Mrs. Minnett informs them the Bashforths, married a week now, will soon return from a walk. Hillgrove queries Mrs. Minnett about the mysterious change Oliver has hinted about in a letter. After Mrs. Minnett takes Rigg into the kitchen, the couple return. Removing their outer wraps, they are revealed as transformed people to the audience. Oliver is handsome, straight and moves energetically, while Laura, now pretty and graceful, has shed her awkwardness and dowdy clothes. The Major cannot see this, but he hears the joy in their voices as they explain what has happened. Their earnestness half-convinces him of the transformation. Laura suggests Mrs. Minnett is a witch who enchanted them, but Hillgrove says it is a heaven-sent miracle. Oliver and Laura grow subdued, as the Major confesses he too is hoping for one. Rain and thunder are heard outside; Laura grows a bit hysterical, but Mrs. Minnett tells her the worst is past. Oliver invites the Major to come back tomorrow; the Smallwoods, the Rector, and Mrs. Corsellis will also be coming. Rigg takes the Major home, and Oliver and Laura take candlesticks up the stairs, followed shortly by Mrs. Minnett.

What follows is a dream scene, representing Laura's vision of what their marriage should have been like, mixed up with the thunderstorm and tales of witches. Honeymoon couples of the past, imps, cherubs, children and two witches pass in and out of the cottage, with Mrs. Minnett leading the latter. Amidst their capers, three bridesmaids enter, followed by Ethel, who exchanges greetings and a little banter with Laura, now dressed in bridal costume. The Smallwoods, the Rector, and Mrs. Corsellis also enter to greet Laura and sit for the coming ceremony. Major Hillgrove appears in khaki dress uniform with all his decorations, his sight restored, to greet the bride as best man. Last comes Oliver, in khaki field uniform with web belts and equipment, muddy and disheveled; he has come from the trenches, wearing a scarf Laura knitted for him. Amidst thunder the humans leave the cottage as fog covers the stage, Mrs. Minnett and the witches and imps scamper about and disappear into the fog, which parts to reveal Oliver and Laura in a white bed, asleep. (Curtain)

Act III: Eternal Truth (The following day, afternoon.) Rigg brings Major Hillgrove to the cottage, where a worn-out Mrs. Minnett admits them. The Bashforths are upstairs, so she goes to fetch them. Rigg observes to the Major that the old girl is looking a bit glum. The Major instructs Rigg to return for him in an hour. When Oliver and Laura come down the stairs they are still attractive and well-dressed. They beg Major Hillgrove to greet and prepare the Smallwoods and the Rector for their surprise, while they themselves wait upstairs. The Major agrees reluctantly; he has never met the Smallwoods, and the tale is fantastic. Oliver and Laura tell the Major something is wrong with Mrs. Minnett; when she heard the Smallwoods were coming she began to moan and fret. The meeting occurs and fully justifies the Major's trepidation. Mrs. Smallwood, never a good listener, addresses him as Wargrave instead of Hillgrove. The Rector and the Smallwoods look askance as the Major attempts to relate the transformation. When the time arrives for the couple to come down the stairs, they appear as they did in the first act; twisted, awkward, and ill-favored. The visitors are naturally angry and sarcastic at what they consider a deception, and the Major is much embarrassed. After they leave, he questions Mrs. Minnett sternly, and she admits to encouraging the couple to consider themselves transformed. She knew they saw each other with love's sight. The Major is shaken; he had hoped there was a change. Laura and Oliver are bitter at first, but their love rekindles in mutual comfort. As the stage darkens, Laura sits sleeping in a chair, while Mrs. Minnett as an angel places a sleeping infant in her arms. (Curtain)

Original production Background According to a newspaper account, Arthur Wing Pinero had completely outlined the play in 1919, and finished the first act by April 1920. The title was not known until February 1922, when it was learned Owen Nares and B. A. Meyer would produce it at the Duke of York's Theatre, then tenanted by Philip Michael Faraday. The author was cagey about the storyline, though he did indicate it was fantasy. Most of the cast was already engaged by mid-February. Rehearsals, under the direction of the playwright, were ongoing by 18 February 1922, and it was known that Sir Frederic Cowen was composing original incidental music for The Enchanted Cottage.

William A. Brady reportedly obtained the American rights for The Enchanted Cottage in early May 1922, though it was later learned that J. J. Shubert actually signed the agreement with Sir Arthur Pinero, in association with William A. Brady.

Cast + Principal cast during the original West End run. Role Actor Dates Notes and sourcesLaura PenningtonLaura Cowie1 Mar 1922 – 22 Apr 1922Oliver BashforthOwen Nares1 Mar 1922 – 22 Apr 1922Mrs. MinnettJean Cadell1 Mar 1922 – 22 Apr 1922Major HillgroveNicholas Hannen1 Mar 1922 – 22 Apr 1922Like his character, Hannen had served in the First World War with distinction.Rev. CorsellisO. B. Clarence1 Mar 1922 – 22 Apr 1922Mrs. CorsellisMay Whitty1 Mar 1922 – 22 Apr 1922Mrs. SmallwoodWinifred Emery1 Mar 1922 – 22 Apr 1922Rupert SmallwoodNorman Forbes1 Mar 1922 – 22 Apr 1922RiggRonald Simpson1 Mar 1922 – 22 Apr 1922EthelDorothy Stephen1 Mar 1922 – 22 Apr 1922This character was also referred to as "Fourth Bridesmaid"; Stephen wore a large false nose for it.

+ Principal cast during the original Broadway run. Role Actor Dates Notes and sourcesLaura PenningtonKatharine Cornell31 Mar 1923 – 26 May 1923Oliver BashforthNoel Tearle31 Mar 1923 – 26 May 1923He was a British cousin of American actor Conway Tearle. Mrs. MinnettClara Blandick31 Mar 1923 – 26 May 1923Major HillgroveGilbert Emery31 Mar 1923 – 26 May 1923Rev. CorsellisHarry Neville31 Mar 1923 – 26 May 1923Mrs. CorsellisEthel Wright31 Mar 1923 – 26 May 1923Mrs. SmallwoodWinifred Fraser31 Mar 1923 – 26 May 1923Rupert SmallwoodHerbert Bunston31 Mar 1923 – 26 May 1923RiggSeldon Bennett31 Mar 1923 – 26 May 1923EthelGwyneth Gordon31 Mar 1923 – 26 May 1923The character of Oliver's older step-sister was played by a Montreal society girl in her first play.

West End premiere and reception