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 Minister" on February 14, 1891, in the very zenith of its success, while a further long run was still to be reasonably expected. This play has not yet been seen in the provinces, but Mr. Augustin Daly has arranged to produce it, with his famous company, at his theatre in New York early in the present month. MALCOLM C. SALAMAN. _January 1892._ _THE PERSONS OF THE PLAY_ RIGHT HON. SIR JULIAN TWOMBLEY, G.C.M.G., M.P., _Secretary of State for the * * * Department_ LADY TWOMBLEY BROOKE TWOMBLEY, _their son_ IMOGEN, _their daughter_ DOWAGER COUNTESS OF DRUMDURRIS LADY EUPHEMIA VIBART, _her daughter_ EARL OF DRUMDURRIS COUNTESS OF DRUMDURRIS VISCOUNT ABERBROTHOCK, _their son_ LADY MACPHAIL MACPHAIL OF BALLOCHEEVIN, _her son_ VALENTINE WHITE, _Lady Twombley's nephew_ HON. MRS. GAYLUSTRE, _trading as Mauricette et Cie., 17a Plunkett Street, Mayfair_ MR. JOSEPH LEBANON MR. MELTON THE MUNKITTRICK MISS MUNKITTRICK PROBYN ANGELE _THE FIRST ACT_ DEBT _THE SECOND ACT_ DIFFICULTIES _THE THIRD ACT_ DISASTER _THE FOURTH ACT_ DANCING THE CABINET MINISTER THE FIRST ACT. DEBT