the flat below i marguerite Gregor.
fa belo Mian G Elise Claremont, An ban Adventuress Mrs. J. H. Nuan.
Our Flat, which was produced on Wednesday night at the Lyceum in the presence of a moderately large audience, is an amusing piece, with very slight motif, cleverly worked ' out, and having one scene, which has largely contributed to its success. First of all it may be said to be a travesty of life in those huge caravansaries of London, which of late years have.become so popular,- and which are generally known as. "flats," But the hit of the play is in the second act, when the furniture on the hire system" having been removed for nonpayment of the agreed instalments, feminine ingenuity contrives a fearful and wonderful suite, having the outward sem-blanco of modern furniture, yet formed of a number of empty boxes, and the most ordinary domestic articles,
Mr. and Mrs. Reginald Sylvester, living The gd of the piece in effect is that in a flat at Montmorencie Mansions, with all the appearances of @ prosperous young couple, are yet in the direst straits, the furniture being only hired and liable to seizure, the tradesmen clamouring for their bills, and to crown all, the husband has backed a bill for friend and is responsible for £200. Marjorie Sylvester, having iaarried him against her father's will, the pair cannot expect much paternal sympathy, and Reginald Sylvester convinced that he has the dramatic instinct, vainly endeavours to get one of his pieces accepted by a theatrical manager, He affects tragedy, but when their affairs are at the worst, his wife, unknown to her husband, composes a comedy—with the rapidity only seen on the stage—hwmourously delineating her own misfortunes, which she despatches to Nathaniel Glover, Manager of the Star Theatre." Meanwhile the furniture is removed by the Hire Furnishing Company, in 'a scene which is provocative of a good deal of amusement, augmented very considerably when Marjorie Sylvester, assisted by Bella, the maid-of-all-work, by means of empty boxes, baskets, tapestry curtains, scraps of art muslin, ete., builds up a suite of furniture which isp sentable, but not exactly fitted for The theatrical manager calling, and Bella for her mistress, endeavours out what sum will be accepted for the work, whilst Bella, possessed with, the notion that the visitor has something to do with furnishing affairs, speaks of £250 as being needed. Glover thinks this is decidedly reasonable, and he determines to buy the A number of com plications ensue, Glover not knowing that lady is the writer of the comedy, but he purchases the work and so removes. the financial ditticulties of the authoress and her husband very unexpectedly. This is the maint current of the story, but to " certain extent there may be suid to be two underplots, one concerning the affairs of the heart of the obdurate parent, and another of his daughter, Lucy McCullum, The representation deserves high' praise the honours of the evening were evenly divided. In the hands of Miss Ethel Arden, as Marjorie Sylvester, and Mr. Graham Stewart as Reginald Sylvester, the humours of impecuniosity were done full justice to, Mr. Stewart's expedient for avoiding "duns," by going down the lift as they were coming upstairs, and going down the stairs as they were coming up the lift, was very amusing. Mr. Henry Kitts can always be depended upon to keep his audience in frame of mind, and his assumption of the airs of the successful, self-conscious, Nathaniel Glover, the theatrical manager, was a very good piece of character acting.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.