JOHN F. SHERIDAN CO.

Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 1014, 6 October 1903, Page 2

JOHN F. SHERIDAN CO.

“THE LADY SLAVEY.” That popular comedian, Mr John F. Sheridan, has completed arrangements for a visit to Gisborne of his brilliant musical comedy company. The season is necessarily limited to three nights owing to the company’s bookings in the centres. On Monday, October 12th, the up-to-date musical comedy “ The Lady Slavey ” will be produced. This has been Mr Sheridan's most successful piece of recent years. The company supporting the “ Genial John ” is an exceptionally strong one, consisting of twenty-five artists, including the Criterion Corps of nine lady dancers, and the pocket comedian “Little Gulliver.” “ The Slavey ” will only be played for one night, as on Tuesday “ A Trip to Chicago ” will be produced, and on Wednesday an entirely new musical comedy, “Naughty Nancy,” will conclude the short season.

The New Plymouth Herald says:— “ Those who patronised the Theatre Eoyal on Wednesday night to witness the production of ‘ The Lady Slavey’ by the John F. Sheridan Company were well entertained, for a brighter and more mirth provoking musical comedy was never staged here. The fun was all free from any grossness, the dialogue bristled with good points, the music was sparkling, and the dancing the best perhaps ever seen here. There is not much plot in ‘ The Lady Slavey,’ there being, like in most musical comedies, just sufficient to keep the audience interested in the chain of events. Mr Sheridan, in the triple characters of Pier-Potts-Point Morgan (a millionaire), Roberts (a bailiff), and Jeems (a flunkey), was simply immense. His get-up alone was sufficient to send the audience into almost uncontrollable laughter, especially as the millionaire. His business was done in that thorough way characteristic of Mr Sheridan. The lines, ‘ John, fetch the barrer.’ which was in evidence on the stage to take away the furniture when as bailiff he was distraining, and ‘ If I bad more encouragement,’ will long /. remain in the memory. Little Gulliver, in his songs and eccentric dancing, made a great hit with the audience, who accorded him a double encore. All the other parts were well taken. A particular feature of the performance was the pretty dancing by a corps of nine young ladies. There were three ballets, which were very gracefully executed, and met with well-merited applause.”

The box plan will be opened at Miller’s at 10 to-morrow morning;