John F. Sheridan.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 203, 3 September 1901, Page 3

John F. Sheridan.

“ WHEN THE LAMPS ARE LIGHTED/’ A CROWDED HOUSE. That great favorite of City playgoers, Mr •J. F. Sheridan, supported by a strong e company, commenced their Gisborne sea--5 son last night, and that the visit to Gisf borne was warmly appreciated was shown 5 by the crowded house and the enthusiasm t of the audience. All the reserved seats i had been taken up well in advance, and i at an early hour of the evening there were 1 a great many people at the doors eagerlywaiting their chance to get in and make sure of a seat. The management in regard to the seating was excellent, and though the crowd was so great everything went off well. The life and soul of the piece was, of course, the inimitable John F. Sheridan himself. He appeared in five distinct characters, all being splendidly taken. First we have him introduced as the Irish showman, Dan Rafferty, and soon he has the audience in shrieks of laughter. He then goes through the stages of Dandy Pat (a singer and dancer), Antonio Marischino (an Italian), Hans Shpoofinheimer (a Dutchman), and Mary Ann Maloney (a match woman). In every character Mr Sheridan wa3 good, his wonderful versatility being greatly admired. At will he kept the house in roars of laughter ; it was not so much the [ clever things ho said as the clever and comical way in which he said them. The complementary characters were capitallytaken by Miss lelin. Mavis, who also fulfils five distinct characters —an actress (Dan’s wife), Aubrey Plantaganet, a mandulinist, a bootblack, and a tlower girl. In addition to joining in several ducts with Mr Sheridan, she sang “ Some Day ” and “ When the Lamps are Lighted,” of which the foliowing are two verses : —- When the lamps are lighted nightly, In the streets of London town, And wo draw the curtains tightly, And the City’s blinds are down, From the shadow-land come creeping All the sorrows and the sins ; When the lamps are burning brightest, London’s darkest hour begins. Where the yellow light lines quiver,

Midnight murder has its lair ; There where London’s mighty river Drowns the wanton’s wild despair; Bat above the stars aro shining, And a pitying God looks down Through the lamps of Heaven that nightly Shine afar o’er London town.

The plot of the piece gives plenty of scope for comedy and pathos. The charming part of Ruth was taken by Miss Violet .Montague, who acted it in areally charming manner; there was no overdoing of the part—it was portrayed as only a true artiste could do it. The character of Margaret, upon whom the pathetic portions of the play mostly fall, was taken with great dramatic skill by Miss Maud G wynne, who in the various emotional scenes maintains her high reputation as an actress. ' The scone where Margaret’s sad secret is partially disclosed to Ruth was a very touching one, and in this as in other scenes Miss Gwynno was ably supported by Mr Edmund Duggan as Paul Wayland. All through tiio pieco that gentleman ably acts his difficult part, and naturally has the warm sympathy of the audience with him all through his misfortunes, and their pleasure in the eventual vindication. Mr Walter Dalglcish, as Frank Amory, played that popular part in fine style, and was first-class in all stages. Tho gentlemanly villain, Stephen Lyle, was acted in a clever manner by Mr Charles Ashley, while in the more common sort of villain, of the burglarious kind, Mr Fred Wentworth acted the part well. As the unscrupulous millionaire, Mr Linden Carlton skilfully portrayed the character. Miss Daisy Chard, as Semolina, helped greatly to keep tho fun going, and in creating diversions that prevented any undue tension in the emotional parts. Miss Chard played tho part with much spirit, and the rehearsal sccno with Charlie Scraggs (Mr Frank Crossloy), the inevitable Dan giving the lessons, was very funny indeed. Miss Lily Bashford was tho fortune-teller, Mr Hermann tho bootblack, Mr Woathorby the dwarf, Mr Crossloy tho domain dosser, and last, but by no means least-, was Miss Florence Failing as Loo Enderby. In the third act, there aro some very exciting scenes ; but in the end, of course, everything is arranged as it should be, the right triumphing, and tho wicked being punished. Though it was no easy matter to adjust the stage scenery, tho play was splendidly mountod, no pains being spared to give as near a representation as could be given if tho pieces wero being played in the largest theatre. At tho conclusion of the play the audience warmly tostiiied their appreciation, and there was no doubt that Mr Sheridan and bis able company had given tho Gisborne play-goers tho fullest satisfaction.

» FUN ON THE BRISTOL.” « WIDOW O'BRIEN,” TO-NIGHT. “ Fux on the Bristol ” is one of thoso eomodies which the public hold in their hearts as most provocative of laughtor. Under its title, it gives scope for endless variety. Mr Sheridan’s “ Widow O’Brien ” naturally stands out prominently amongst the various characters introduced. One of Mr Sheridan’s greatest charms is that whatever ho says and does seems to be spontaneous, and he always appears to be enjoying the performance as much as those who are the observers. When a man has impersonated a feminine character something like 5000 times, as Mr Sheridan has done the famous “ Widow O’Brien,” ho is in a position to invest it with dashes of wit to bo derived _ out of incidents happening at tho time. Associated with “ Fun on tho Bristol ” are novel musical items and notable novelties, including the gyrations of “ The Cake-walk in tho Sky,” a remarkably clever burlesque on “II Trovatore,” wherein Mr Sheridan will play Count de Lunatic Kruger; and there will bo a series of living pictures, entitled “ The Vacant Chair,” “ The Canteen Attack,” The Nurse,” “ Tho Absent-minded Beggar,” “ The Doctor,” “ The Lost Chord,” “ Tho Last Cartridge.” In the saloon of the -s.s. Bristol, in the second act, there are several proved successes, the following forming a few of the many associated with the merry evening promised to-night :—Trio, " The Music Lesson,” " Mv Darling, We Are Made One,” “ She’s An Alright Girl,” “ Poor Little’ Man.” “ The Cake-walk," tho two-headed and three-legged nondescript, a really novel turn, we understand ; | “ Serenata,” “ I’ll meet theo in ,” with j ’cello interruptions; “The Giddy Curate,” j the burlesque 11 Trovatore,living pictures, coon song “ Mi Mi," whistling novelty, ] and others too numerous to mention. These, in addition to the multitudinously attractive features concentrated with the fortunes of tho Widow O'Brien and the farcical comedy, Fun on the Bristol, mustbe the means of ensuring a thorough good evening’s amusement. We have been asked to state that the i box plan is open at Mr Miller’s, where also a special day sale of tickets has been arranged for the 3s and 2s parts. _lntend- : ing visitors would be wise to avail thems selves of these . opportunities, and avoid ! unnecessary crowding at the doors.