Miss ISABEL ELLISSEN.

COUNTESS OF DRUMDURRIS Miss EVA MOORE.

LADY TWOMBLEY Mrs. JOHN WOOD.

IMOGEN (her Daughter) Miss FLORENCE TANNER.

LADY MACPHAIL Mrs. EDMUND PHELPS.

HON. MRS. GAYLUSTRE
(a Young Widow trading as Mauricette
et Cie., 17A, Plunkett Street, Mayfair) Miss ROSINA FILIPPI.

ANGELE Miss MARIANNE CALDWELL.

MISS MUNKITTRICK Miss FLORENCE HARRINGTON.

[A] _Subsequently changed to_ MELTON.

ACT I.

DEBT.

_At_ Sir JULIAN TWOMBLEY'S, _Chesterfield Gardens. May._

ACT II.

DIFFICULTIES.

_At_ Sir JULIAN'S _again. July._

ACT III.

DISASTER.

_At Drumdurris Castle, Perthshire. August._

ACT IV.

DANCING.

_The same place. The next day._

THE SCENERY IS DESIGNED AND PAINTED BY T. W. HALL.

The reception on the first night was of a half-hearted character, for
the play had been described simply as a farce, and the audience found
itself laughing at seemingly serious situations which it felt should
properly provoke tears, feeling sympathetically interested in passages
of sentiment one moment, only to mock at them the next, and, in fact,
experiencing constant perplexity as to its emotional duties. The
programme certainly said "farce" in black and white, and what could that
mean but unmitigated nonsense and laughter? Yet, here was actual drama
with a whimsical twist that was most surprising; here were bits of
pathos which were positively comic. Could this be farce? But happily
that kind of criticism is soon forgotten whose principle is, like that
of _Mr. Punch's_ navvy, "Here's a stranger, let's 'eave 'alf a brick at
him." The "mixed" greeting of "The Cabinet Minister" gave place to very
enthusiastic receptions on succeeding nights, and, in spite of the
perplexity confessed in many of the criticisms of the play, the theatre
was crowded night after night, and the fashionable and political worlds
flocked to the Court, many leading politicians being frequent visitors.

The season terminated on August 8, and the theatre re-opened on October
11, from which time the popularity of Mr. Pinero's play continued as
great as ever. But, after 197 performances, Mrs. John Wood decided to
withdraw "The Cabinet Mi