"THE LADY SLAVEY."

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8106, 28 March 1906, Page 5

"THE LADY SLAVEY."

A well-filled house greeted the John F. Sheridan Company in the Town Hall, last- evening, when the musical comedy, "The Lady Slavey," was staged. The comedy is full of life and the music bright and sparkling. There are a number of ballads, ballets, and specialities introduced into the piece. The sucjeut of the play, which hinges upon the fortunes of a young lady who, beoause her father has fallen on bad times, undertakes the household duties so that it shall not be known that the family is unable to keep a servant, and also that her sisters may exercise their wiles on an American millionaire, and thus enable her father to retrieve his sooial position, interested the audience throughout. The millionaire becomes enamoured of the "slavey," and despite the endeavours of tbe sisters and a music-hall artist, who also pursues him with her attentions, wins her. This ia the serious side of the play, if serious side there be. The amusing side, and amujing it is, is the hiding of the identity of two process-servers and a multitude of £duns, male and female, from the millionaire. The prooess-servers are ;induced by the lady slavey to act as footmen, and the duns are turned into guests. The millionaire—"a Tomato King" —learns the position, and also that the "alavey" will not wed him because he is rich. He induces one of the bailiffs to impersonate the Tomato King, and declares that he is only his poor seoretary, and so wins his lady love. Mr Sheridan as Roberts the bailiff, Jeems a flunkey, and Pier-pout Morgan a millionaire, was remarkably humorous throughout, and kept the house in a simmer of laughter ail the while he occupied the stage. Miss Heba Barlow, as Phyllis (the lady slavey) acted her part very pleasingly, while her singing was much appreciated. Mr Avalon Oollard, was very suooeaful as Vincent A. Evelyn (the American millionaire), while Mr Rupert Julian gave a capable interpretation of the part of Major O'Neill (an Irish landlord). Miss Muriel Williams filled the role of Flo Honeydew (from the Empire Music Hall), in a capable manner, as did Mr Thomas Curran, as "Bill" (the seound bailiff). A number of other characters were successfully undertaken. The choruses were well suug, the staging of tbe piece was exoellent, while the dancing was a feature of the per formance.

"FUN ON THE BRISTOL."

To-night,'as Mr Sheridan and his popular oompany will make their last appearance of the Masterton season, the amusement lovers of Masterton will be treated to a revival of the evergreen "Fun on tne Bristol," the actor manager appearing in his celebrated role of the' genial Widow O'Brien, whose naughty wink is just as convincing at. it was in the early days of her widowhood. A grand concert on board the good ship Bristol is promised. Miss Barlow will sing (by request) "Come Back to Bom-Bom-Bay," * a song with a remarkably catchy refrain. A orowded house will, no doubt, give a hearty reception to the "Widdy O'Brien," and wish her good-bye. The oompany leave for Palmerston North to-morrrow.

CABLE NEWS.

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