OPERA HOUSE.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11729, 2 December 1905, Page 7

OPERA HOUSE.

STRAND THEATRE COMEDY COMPANY.

"THE J.P."

At the Opera House to-night the famous Strand Iheatre Comedy Company will inaugurate- a two nights' season with the much-talked-of farce comedy, 'The J.P.," which will be presented under arrangement with Mr J. C. Williamson. It is described as a piece which has been constructed by its author to create laughter by any and all means, and consequently is a veritable screamer. Headed by two leading Jfcinglish Gaiety stars in the persons of Mr J. J. Dallas and Miss Florence Lloyd, tlic company will include Miss Maiide Cketxvynd, Florence Bedfei'D, MagJa Bossiwoi'e, Mfldgo Hcmek, Norah Dc-lan-ey, and Austin, Messrs Aubrey Mallalieu, Gregan Ku-Mahon, Tom Cannon J ohnson Weir, etc. The plot is shortly the adventures of Caesar Montague, J.P., the letters signifying both Justice of Peace and pocular party. Caesar is both. At home he is eminently respectable, staid and sober to a degree; abroad at Boulogne he is completely opposite. He is particularly anxious to stand well in Lhe estimation of his nephew, who is to be his heir, provided he falls in with the matrimonial arrangements made by his uncle on his behalf. Charlie has matrimonial arrangements of his own. He hr.s been married on the quiet to Flo Neville, principal boy at the Bijou Theatre, whose own particular friend is Kate Earle, at the Gaiety Theatre, and wife of a low comedian, who fancies he was born to play tragedy. The two ladies take the lead in the exposure of the pious fraud, who is ever addressed as the J.P., and who has a bad time, particularly under the treatment of Flo Neville, who, put.ius: herself in male attire, assumes the iStyle and title of Captain Rattler, a gay iog, and lures the man on the brandies md sodas and a little game of nap, in which he or she contrives to fleece him of all his money, seeing that Charlie, underaeath the table, arranges the cards. Such a a brief outline of this amusing comedy and the doings of the J.P. and his friends, md there seems little doubt that crowded houses will rule throughout the season, as the demand for seats at 11. I. Jones and Son's has been exceptionally heavy. The company arrives this morning.