The Lady Slavey
The Lady Slavey was an 1894 operetta in two acts with a score by John Crook (with contributions by Henry Wood and Letty Lind, among others), to a libretto by George Dance (with additional lyrics by Adrian Ross, among others) which opened at the Royal Avenue Theatre in London on 20 October 1894 and which featured May Yohé and Jennie McNulty. After a major rewrite to make it more suitable for American audiences it opened at the Casino Theatre on Broadway on 3 February 1896 where it ran for 128 performances with additional lyrics by Hugh Morton  and music by Gustave Adolph Kerker. Synopsis. Based on the story of "Cinderella", Irishman Major O'Neill (Robert Pateman) is faced with bankruptcy and financial ruin after running up large milliners bills for his daughters Maud (Adelaide Astor) and Beatrice (Blanche Barnett). In an attempt to stave off this disaster, with the assistance of Flo Honeydew (Jennie McNulty) he attempts to marry off his youngest daughter Phyllis (May Yohé) - the "slavey" of the title - to a rich man she doesn't love. Phyllis loves Vincent A. Evelyn (Henry Beaumont). She, assisted by Roberts, a Sheriff's Officer (Charles Danby) is determined  to avoid this fate. Roberts enters disguised as an American millionaire to thwart the plan. All ends well and Phyllis is united with her true love. Productions. After its premiere at the Opera House in Northampton in 1893 "The Lady Slavey" was produced by William Greet at the Royal Avenue Theatre in London from October 1894 to January 1895 with Henry Wood as the conductor. The role of Phyllis in the first tour of 1893 was created by Kitty Loftus. During an early stage of one of the show's various British tours from 1893 to 1907 the conductor was  Howard Talbot. "The Lady Slavey" had a lot of competition in London in 1894, which saw the openings of "The Chieftain" by Arthur Sullivan and F. C. Burnand, "His Excellency" by F. Osmond Carr and W. S. Gilbert, "Go-Bang" by Adrian Ross and Carr, "Wapping Old Stairs" by Stuart Robertson and Howard Talbot, a revival of "Little Jack Sheppard" by Meyer Lutz and H. P. Stephens at the Gaiety Theatre, "Mirette" by André Messager and Ross, and "The Shop Girl", an extremely successful musical comedy by H. J. W. Dam, Ivan Caryll, Lionel Monckton and Ross. The critic for  The Sketch wrote: "Mr. William Greet, in producing "The Lady Slavey" at the Avenue Theatre, seemed like a rash man. Success seems to have justified his rashness. Yet, at first, failure seemed to be the certain fate of "The Lady Slavey". It is a striking proof of the vitality of the work that it survived the harsh notices of the critics and cold reception of the first-nighters. To a great extent, it is a question of company. Miss May Yohé's singing does not satisfy the exacting critics, nor does her acting endanger other reputations; but her strange voice , her charming person, and unflagging spirits quickly catch and hold the audience. Mr. Charles Danby's dictionary probably does not contain the word "subtlety", yet his vast energy and broad sense of humour are far more useful, and certainly, whatever you may think of the means he uses, he is one of the funniest players in his line. Cinderella's "Sisters" are a delightful change from old ideas. Perhaps they rather hurt the tale, for the admirable singing of the handsome Miss Blanche Barnett and the dainty dancing of Miss Adelaide Astor make them dangerous rivals for the heroine. Mr.  Robert Pateman, one of our most versatile and able players - who will forget his "horse" song in "Mdlle. Nitouche", or his terrible death scene in the Princesses' melodrama "Master and Man"? - might have a better part with advantage to the work. The acting of Mr. G. Humphrey is also very clever." "The Lady Slavey" had a run of less than a week at the Lafayette Square Opera House in Washington D.C. before George Lederer's production opened at the Casino Theatre on Broadway on 3 February 1896 where it ran for 128 performances. Lederer instructed Dance to "Americanize" the piece  and it was put on with new lyrics by Hugh Morton and a score by Gustave Adolph Kerker. The lazy Sheriff Dan Daly is set the task of reclaiming the estate of a bankrupt Englishman. In an attempt to stave of financial ruin the Englishman tries to marry off his daughter, the "slavey" of the title (Virginia Earle) to a wealthy young heir with the assistance of Flo Honeydew (Marie Dressler). The actress Marie Dressler had her first starring role as Flo Honeydew in this production which she performed for four years, two years of which were on tour. The  critic of "The New York Times" called Dressler, "...an utterly preposterous music hall performer" while another stated of her, "It was hardly a case of acting. Better call it a case of letting herself go... She seemed a big, overgrown girl and a thoroughly mischievous romp with the agility of a circus performer and the physical elasticity of a professional contortionist... Her comic resource was inexhaustible, her animal spirits irrepressible and her audacity approached the sublime." A production was held at the Prince's Theatre in Bristol (1893-1894), while in 1897 Robert Courtneidge revived "The Lady Slavey" at the  Prince's Theatre in Manchester. In 1900 the actress Madge Lessing played the title role when the work was revived in Boston in the USA. New York Cast. The cast at the Casino Theatre in New York in 1896 included: