THEATRE ROYAL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIX, Issue 6692, 28 September 1882, Page 2

THEATRE ROYAL.

“Partners foe Life.’’-«A detailed programme of the comedy to be played this evening by the amateurs will be found on our front page. As this play has never before been produced in Wellington, a slight sketch may prove interesting. A young barrister, Tom Gilroy, who has been separated from bis wife for five year*, meets her under an assumed name of Fauoy Smith, on a visit to hie cousin, Mr Mervyn, an elderly country gentleman, whose cousin, Emily, is an old school-fellow of Mrs Gilroy’s. The old gentleman has fallen in love with the supposed Miss Smith, but is prevented from avowing his passion because some years ago he bad been cajoled into a secret marriage by his confidential servant,. Mu.'glea, who has him, in consequence, completely in his power. Mervyn endeavors to bring about a marriage between Emily and Tom, in order to prevent Gilroy becoming a possible rival However, Tom Gilroy and bis wife, after explanations, become reconciled, sad are discovered in very close proximity at the close of the second act, this being a very effective situation. In the last act we find Mervyn ruined by failures. His old friends desert him, and he looks on Tom as a faithless friend and Fanny a designing woman. Eventually Mervyn finds that he has been duped by the treacherous Muggles- into marrying a woman whose husbaud was living at the time. Mugglea is dismissed. Mrs Gilroy makes over her property to' Mr Mervyn, who is persuaded to take it, as it is legally his by an eccentric will, and the comedy ends, as all comedies de, happily for everyone.