OPERA HOUSE.

Auckland Star, Volume XVI, Issue 3807, 23 October 1882, Page 2

OPERA HOUSE.

"lalcen from Life."

Tiie production of this play, tho plot of which w»s described In our Friday's issue, t-iok placo on Satutday evening in tho presence of a full " house." Like its predecessor*,it was mounted in Grit-class style, and there can be no question as to the complete success of the pcrfotmancc. It was received with evory mark of satisfaction, and the applause was hearty and frequent. As a dramatic work, "Taken from Life," although marked by the stage conventionalism of tbo sensatioual school, ia far superior to " The World," •' New Babylon," and " Mankind," inasmuch as it is something more than a moro string of startling incidents and lijghly-extravagant situations. The B'ory is by no means original, but it is interesting, and the plot is clearly defined end naturally dc'elop'd, while tbo dialogue is clever, and at times sparkling. '' Taken from Lite," in sboit, has more in common with the legitimate drama than any of the other ''novelties'' yet produced from Mr Bland Holt's repertoire The scenci arc uli well-con-trived, while oucof them nt lea-tchallouces comparison iv point of realism and startling effect with any that the present company bave yet represented. We r.fer to the b'owin<-up of tha walls of Clerkenwell prison by means of an infernal machine. I his pice. >.f mechanism, wiiich ha» the shape and appearance of _ clock, is placed by tbe side of tho prison wall in view ef the aud'enc^, and a minute or two later the cxploi-ion takes plarw, followed by tho collapse off he apparently massive masonry, the. utterance of heart-rending shrieks,mid a desperate struggle among the smoking ruins betweon escaping convicts and tho bewildered warders. All theso details were capitally carried ont, and tv proof of tbeh thorough satisfaction the audience insisted upon the curtain being again raised. 'I lie representation «f Radley'a -tables was also good, but the finartableau in connection with it can, and doubtless will, be improved upon.- Aud now for tbe characters. Mr Blaud Holt is, of courso, tho leading spirit in the performance, despito the fact that bis rflle hi really only of a subsidiary k^nd. In his hand", however, it obtains a proi_incnoe second to none. Tho part is that of Titus Knott, a general utility man, employed by sn auvehturer named Ridley, who holds him in tcrrorem by the knowledge of some piece of petty criminality in which he was .concerned. Knott is a very seedy tort of personage, so far as his habiliments go, but be is cli-er-ful, -oliloqulstio and, after his fashion, humorous — points which Mr Hot elaborates to a nicety. Tho ladies all play well, Miss Tanner makes a charming Kate Donby; Miss Edwin plays with her accustomed vivacity the part of Mary Mngnirc, tho servant; Mlsb Fenwick does justice to the role of .Bella Greystone, tbe heiress ; and Miss Tilly I aire gives further proof, in her assumption of the character of Jack, the stable boy, of her especial aptitude for tho able treatment of juvenile parts. Mr Holloway as Radley; Mr Douglas, as Walter Leo, tho artist; Mr St. Lawrence, as Robt, Channell, a sportsman ; Mr Seagrave as Maguire, tbe Socialist ;Mr Mortyne; as Donby, the country gentleman ; and Mr Patterson, as Joe Gallon, the trainer, each and all acquitted themselves with much credit. In-fine, the performance was smooth, and the result successful. The play will be repeated tonight. _______^_________