"MISS LANCASHIRE, LTD."

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1421, 23 April 1912, Page 6

"MISS LANCASHIRE, LTD."

MISS MARIE BAINES AT OPERA. HOUSE. "Miss Lancashire, Ltd.," a musical farce in two acts, by Sydney Sydney. CastJohn Higgins Mr. Douglas Aiken. Harry Biggins Mr. A. 11. Young. Herbert lox Mr. Alex. Devon. Grant Mr. J. Henderson. Bertha Higgins Miss Hette Peel. Kva Lancashire Miss Xell Mallior. Moses Goldberg Mr. Sam 0. Leslie. John' Henry Thompson... Mr. Krrick Vivian. Our Mary Ellen Miss Marie Daines. Last evening was not the first occasion, on which the playgoing public of Wellington have invested in "Miss Lancashire, Ltd.," and thereby have realised heavy dividends of laughter, which the medical profession will testify is worth much good gold. It was Miss Florence Baines who rollicked through the riotous role of Mary Ellen Thompson., the Lancashire servant girl, a couple of years ago in tho Theatre Royal. On this occasion the part is assumed by her sister, Miss Mario Baines, who has no difficulty in Jceeping up tho family reputation as a brightly magnetic exponent of broad comedy. Comparisons in this case are not odious. Whilst tho original "Mary Ellen" was an extremely comical character, with a soprano voico of excellent quality, Miss Marie Bnines manages to eliminate a certain coarseness which obtruded in her sister's performance, and whilst not so generously gifted vocally, acted the absurd character with marked vim and elan, and here and there broke away from the dialect and character to exhibit talent of a wide range and common appeal. Briefly, Mary Ellen Thompson is a Lancashire lass who, rather than marry one Timothy Tinbobbin, writes a number of references about herself, and so obtaTns by mail a situation in the Higgins household in London. Higgins, senior, is at the time expecting tho arrival of his ward, a young lady named Miss Lancashire, whose sympathy and cash ho hopes will save hiin from rnin. Having boarded her out from babyhood, she is unknown to him, and so," when Mary Ellen arrives from Lancashire, she is taken to his heart, whilo the real Miss Lancashire, wishing to knowexactly how the land lies, persuades Mary Ellen "to keep up the delusion. Mary is a wild, untamed wench from a factory, with n wealth of expletive at her command, and a plentiful lack of knowlcdgo of the usages of the society which- the Higginscs affect, nnd her rough and tumble jokes, her simple, hearty ways, and the trickle of Lancashire dialect which embroiders her speech, keeps the house simmering with laughter. Young Higgins, who views th? world, through' a monocle, is destined to marry Miss Lancashire, but Mary Ellen as a fiancee is too much for him, particularly as the real heiress, despite her cap and gown, has enslaved him. Old Higgins and Fox, the lawyer, for some inscrutable reason, havo resolved to float .Miss Lancashire's properties into a company, an idea to which Mary Ellen agrees, and, on being presented with a bundle of shares, gives them awav to anyone who happens to bo around. Finally, after Mary Ellen's queer parents appear on the scene, the gamo becomes played out, .Miss Lancashire assumes Jier proper station, and Marv Ellen retires to the obscurity of St. Helens.

Miss Haines is the dynamo which supplies the electric energy to this merry farce. Seldom off the stage for moro than a few minutes, she infuses life and vivacity into the character, and wins out in spite of the indifferent support accorded. She is gifted with the rare power of mimicry. Her imitation of a little child riding to Blackpool was extremely clever, and her coster recitation, in imitation of Kate Kearney, disclosed the fact that she possesses in no ordinary way dramatic talent of a high order. Her tuneful voice was heard to advantage in "Billy," "Fairy Tales" ftopical), and other songs. Mr. A. B. Young made Harry Higgins tho society type which, he is supposed to be, and Mr. Alex. Devon was bright as Fox, the lawyer. Miss Nell Mather made an attractive Eva Lancashire, but would improve her performance if she would refrain from chattering her lines so quickly. Other characters were plaved more or less crudely by Messrs. D. Aiken, J. Henderson, Sam C. Leslie, and Errick Vivian. Miss Hetto Pee!, as Bertha Higgins, conveyed an air of boredom and distress throughout. She contributed a waltz song to tho harmony of the evening. • "Miss Lancashire, Limited, will bo staged throughout the week.