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.

[1] 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.

Based on the story of Cinderella,[2] 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).

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.

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.

"[5] 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[6] where it ran for 128 performances.

In an attempt to stave off 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).