Theatre Production - The Marriage Market

If the new piece at Daly's, which has been so excellently produced by Mr. Edward Royce, differs in some respects from its immediate predecessors, it does not differ from them in all the customary features of success. To Miss Gladys Unger we are indebted for the English version of the libretto of M. Brody and F. Martos, and Arthur Anderson and Adrian Ross have wedded graceful lyrics to the tuneful melodies of Victor Jacobi.

The curtain rises on a delightful South Californian scene and the stage is filled with cowboys, who are awaiting the annual sale of ladies by the proprietor of the Palace Hotel and Sheriff of Mendocino Bluff. For years past Bald Faced Sandy has repeated this interesting episode, but this year he has resolved that the aforetime mock marriages shall take place in earnest, and to that end he has engaged the services of Father Pedro from an adjacent mission to tie the connubial knot.

By a mere chance Mariposa Gilroy, the San Francisco heiress, and her bosom friend, Kitty Kent, arrive at Mendocino Bluff and, moved by the spirit of fun, determine to set themselves up for auction. Mariposa, however, has no sooner arrived at the Bluff than she attracts the attention of handsome Slippery Jack, whose real name is Jack Fleetwood and who is in reality the son of Mariposa's father's bitterest enemy.

Another arrival is Lord Hurlingham, whose wide-awake valet, Blinker, intends that he shall marry the heiress, and to further that end he bribes the Sheriff to allow him to pose as the auctioneer, but his lordship has been captivated by the bright eyes of Kitty Kent, and so it falls out that Mariposa marries Slippery Jack and Lord Hurlingham her winsome companion, who poses for the nonce as her servant.

PRESS REVIEW

(The Daily Mail [London, UK] - 4th December, 1913)
PERFECT TANGO
MISS GERTIE MILLAR'S SUCCESS IN "THE MARRIAGE MARKET"

"The Marriage Market," which reached its 200th performance last night, is perhaps the brightest, and most pleasing of the brilliant series of musical plays produced by Mr. George Edwardes at Daly's Theatre. While new songs, new dances, and new dresses give it an air of youthful freshness its long run has brought it to mature perfection.

As the beautiful American heiress Miss Sari Petrass, sweetest of singers, moves tunefully "hand in hand" with the romantic cowboy of Mr. Robert Michaelis, and they have a duet that is the last word in love songs. Miss Gertie Millar as a fascinating Western girl finds an ideal partner in the imperturbable Englishman of Mr. G. P. Huntley, who gets the maximum of fun out of his part with the minimum of apparent effort.

With ship dressed by smart girls in smart frocks Mr. Harry Dearth as the Captain uses his fine voice to excellent effect in a rollicking sailor song, "Here's good luck to the ladies." Then Miss Millar, dancing as only she can, does a gay hornpipe and brings the mazy tango so near to the poetry of motion that the audience will hardly let her stop. And in a polyglot proposal song she shows herself a wonderful mimic, while later on she "takes off" Mr. Huntley.

Mr. W.H. Berry as the wide-awake valet has some additional openings for his peculiar humour in an amusing song about modern love-making by telephone, and another called "Joy Bells," in which he gets a "possible" of topical hits. As the sheriff who starts "the little game." Mr. Tom Walls might have stepped out of a story by Bret Harte, and the exquisite Californian scene helps to complete the illusion.

Clever Miss Elise Craven as a trim little midshipmite has a new nautical dance that is rapturously applauded. But the others also work with a will and may claim a share in making "The Marriage Market" as gay as it is busy, as funny as it is refined.

G. M.

The whole episode is taken in the high spirit of irresponsible fun when along comes the Padre, who assures them they have been united according to the ritual of the Holy Catholic Church and, as the Sheriff subsequently remarks, the only thing that can divide them is the Judge or a stroke of lightning. Although Mariposa willingly handed her rosette to the picturesque cowboy, she considers the marriage has been obtained by a species of fraud and demands that Jack shall not hold her to it against her will, stoutly maintaining that she has no love for him, and Jack, being a gentleman, despite the slippery nom de guerre, parts with her on the understanding that he will claim her as his wife in six months' time.

In the next act we are on board the yacht of the 'Frisco senator, and as Mr. Edwardes has set it upon the stage it is a vessel that might be owned by a syndicate of multi-millionaires, so gorgeous are its appointments, and here we find that Slippery Jack has entered himself as an ordinary sailor. Of course, husband and wife meet and need it be said that Mariposa has been yearning in secret fer her handsome cowboy, but when she realizes his immediate proximity she is filled with righteous indignation and declines his connubial advances, until Jack takes her in his arms and makes an eloquent appeal with eyes and lips, when she succumbs and frankly tells her father that she prefers love to dollars.

But can the ex-cowboy and present common sailor comport himself as a gentleman? is the query which the senator puts to the lovers! Jack answers the question by going ashore and returning in the most up-to-date suit of evening clothes ever turned out of Saville Row, and with the manners and bearing of a Guardsman. What more could a punctilious American require?

In assuming the conventional clothes of the gentleman, Jack also resumes his proper name and then it is that the senator recognises in him the son of his ancient enemy. So once again the course of true love is rudely disturbed, and Jack is given his cards. However all is made right in the third act and the audience may rest content that they live happily ever after.

So much for the story of hero and heroine - and unfortunately space forbids that I enter into particulars of Blinker's courting of Emma and Lord Hurlingham's quest of piquant Kitty Kent, to whom he had been unconsciously wedded in the marriage market sale. In spite of the jealous moments of the former, and the misunderstandings of the latter, their respective problems are resolved to the satisfaction of all, and wine and dance prevail at the wedding banquet in the palatial hall of the senator's San Francisco residence.

The first act of the "Marriage Market" does not give very much scope for modern dress, yet the farmers' daughters picturesque costumes as worn by Miss Gertie Millar and Miss Sari Petrass are perfectly charming. The colour combinations and the style are excessively becoming. Miss Gertie Millar in the yachting dress, in the second act, wears a charming frock of white charmeuse, the bodice finished with large sailor collar, bordered with pervenche blue and piped black. The skirt is charmingly draped and is opened at the back and lined with pervenche. The sleeves are daintily finished with turned back cuffs of the blue, and from underneath are little soft full puffs of net. A coat effect is given at the back, that shows with every movement the coloured touch underneath. Her evening gown in this same act is of white satin, with over dress of white chiffon heavily diamante; this is again underveiled with flesh-colour chiffon. A black velvet ceinture, also heavily diamante with a mixture of jet, and the white tunic is lined with black velvet too. In the front from the velvet waistband hang two buffalo tasselled ornaments of diamante and jet interspersed. It is a delightful combination. Another very beautiful frock worn by Miss Gertie Millar is in the third act. This is composed of the palest flesh pink marquisette, draped over shadow lace and having a lace underskirt.

Miss Sari Petrass as Mariposa looks most fascinating in all her costumes, but particularly so in the first act, where, disguised as the farmer's daughter, she charms "Slippery Jack" against his will. Her yachting dress in the second act, too, is of pale blue and most becoming. Of pink chiffon and diamante embroidered net, beautifully draped, is the evening dress she wears for the dance on board the yacht; the ceinture is of shaded blue and blue flowers.

Miss Avice Kelham, as the bride in the third act, is charming in her wedding gown of white satin, brocaded in raised velvet-roses gracefully draped on each side. A panel of pearls and diamante trims the collar of this dress, which is very effective.

The guests on board the yacht are delightfully gowned. Graduated shades of green chiffon and white crystal beads was one; another originally draped gown is in turquoise blue, the draperies caught with yellow roses. Gold beads and cherry chiffon is a delightful combination, whilst yet another is in pastel blue mousseline, embroidered in pastel beads, over which a lace coatee is worn. The white evening frocks are absolutely sweet. With these are worn most fascinating hats of the mushroom kind, that are lined with green and have hanging green ribbons and bunches of poppies at one side of the brim. The hats altogether are exceptionally chic and not so outre as they generally are in these productions, and anyone wanting really smart and up-to-date hats would do well to go and see the "Marriage Market," where the whole effect can be seen. There are hats large, and hats small, in every possible style.

Some of the bridesmaids, too, are dressed in two shades of net, blue and mauve superposed; the skirts are up in front, and they have curiously shaped tunic overskirts, that are edged with two contrasting colours: green and yellow, green and blue and mauve and cerise; these were very attractive.