OPERA HOUSE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 186, 19 August 1901, Page 2

OPERA HOUSE.

"A TRIP TO CHICAGO."

After a week of melodrama, the John P. Sheridan Company changed to musical farce, "A Trip to Chicago" being substituted for "When the Lamps are Lig-hted." Tne piece was written specially for Mr Sheridan by himself and Mr Fred Lyster and forms a companion to "Fun on the Bristol," with which Mr Sheridan's name is associated the world over. A large audience assembled, and all seemed to hugely enjoy themselves. As in most musical comedies, the plot is of the vaguest and flimsiest description, but it is not on plot that the success of such creations as "A Trip to Chicago" depends, it is on situation, and the farce abounds in situations of a most Irumorous nature. Throughout the "Trip" is a frank attempt to amuse and that the attempt succeeded on Saturday night no one will venture to deny, for from the rise of the curtain ripples of merriment, occasionally breaking into roars of laughter, were to be heard. The whole action revolves round Johanna Murphy (M'~ Sheridan), one of two nrcotherrs-in-laW on a trip to Chicago. Johanna, warmhearted and wealthy, is nevertheless of the "impossible" type, and her sayings and doings provide an inexhaustible supply of fun. She goes to Chicago to see her daughter, to settle affairs in the house, but arrives just after the 1000 th tiff is made up. She gives her unhappy son-in-law a rather warm time, but finding that he has not been beating his wife, she generously forgives him for what he did not do, and announces her intention of stopping three months. The other mother-in-law, a highly cultured Bostonian, the direct antithesis of Johanna, then arrives on the scene, and the meeting between the two is indescribably funny. Mr Sheridan is a complete success as Johanna, keeping the audience continually amused during the whole time he occupies the stage. His business at the first meeting with her son-in-law is capital, and her full rich brogue with which her funny mala propisms arc brought out adds greatly to the favour with which they are received. Her treatment of her satellites—a mining shark and a retired Major —proviaes Mr Sheridan with further opportunities of exhibiting his unique ability in the pourtrayal of such roles. Mr Tiffin, as Major of the Noble Six Hundred, is of the usual type of comic opera Major, the like of which never existed off the stage since the world began, lie does his work well, however, and added to the amusement of the evening-. Mr Crossley, as a London. Johnnie, in love with Johanna's daughter, and in fear of his future mammn-in-law, was distinctly good, as was Mr Chas. Ashley as Peter Plum, a policeman. Mr Dalgleish, who filled the role of Johanna's son-in-law, did his work with credit; and Miss Celia Mavis, as Marie Parks, was also successful. In the second act, in a garden party scene, a number of songs were giveu with acceptance. Miss Barns sang a coon song entitled "Mi Mi," written by Mr Crossley and composed by Mr Gardner, both members of the Company. The song is a melodious one, and was heartily applaudod. Miss Barns was encored for her rendering of "The Cake Walk in the Sky," and a similar compliment was accorded Mr Crossley for "The Giddy Curate." Mr Sheridan and Miss Mavis gave a dialogue entitled "Romeo and Juliei;," Mr Sheridan being very funny as Juliet Brown-Potter. Miss Daisy Chard sang "When Our Boys Come Home," and gave a whistling item as an encore. To-night, and tomorrow "A Trip to Chicago" will be repeated,, and on Wednesday "The Shaughran" will be put on.