THE HOLLOWAY DRAMATIC SEASON:

Auckland Star, Volume XXIII, Issue 296, 13 December 1892, Page 2

THE HOLLOWAY DRAMATIC SEASON:

" The Land of the Living » was performed for the first time in Auckland last evening at Abbobb's Opera House by the Holloway Dramatic Company.' This new and romantic drama is trom the pen of Mr Prank Harvey, author of " The World Against Her and other pieces well known to playgoers. " The Land of the Living "is full of interesting incidents and striking situations. Ib affords scope for the display of many and varied charaebers bobh grave and gay. One moment the finer emotions are affected by the troubles of the hero and heroine, and the next, the audience are convulsed by the comic by-play, which is skilfully introduced to prevent any danger of bhe visitors being too long sunk in the depths ol despondency. In all there are five acbs, Borne laid in mighty London, showing ifca wealth and poverty, while bhe second acb depicts life in the Krasti Mountains, Cape Colony. To say thab the drama is well mounted scarcely does justice to fine scenery. As a matter of fact, the staging is really excellenb, the revolving scenery in the fourth acb being truly admirable. As Gerald Arkwright, Mr Charles Holloway gave a pleasing- delineation of the troubles of an honourablo man in the toils of a villain, and who, of course, after many vicissitudes comes out victor at the end. The broken down old Club man, "Anthony Arkwright," received full justice ab the hands of Mr Oily peering, whose funny expressions and comic actionß quickly pub bhe audience in an excellenb humour. Mr Richard Stewarb also did good work in his representation of "Fred Larkins." the young man is very much in love with the fair Norah. Mr Henry Willard had the unpleasant duty allotted to him of appearing a3 the unmitigated villain, Reuben Tredgold, who with malice aforethought, ceaselessly pursues Gerald Arkwright. Bub though successful for a time, all his machinations fail in the end, and his deeply planned villainies fail to secure him the full revenge for which he so persistently laboured. The female characbers were all well sustained. As the faithful wife of bhe hero, Miss Constance Deorwyn further displayed her abilities as an emotional actress in depicting the character of Kate Arkwrighb. Her sister, Alice Deorwyn, was really amusing as Meg Tredgold, and her confidential disclosures of the troubles of a miner's wife in Cape Colony evoked considerable laughter. Miss Linda Arkwrighb was admirable as Norah Arkwright, the somewhat hard-to-please botrobhed of Fred Larkins, and the character of the faithful Nurse Babble received jugtice ab the hands of Mies Marion Medway. Nor must be forgotten little Inez Andrews, who performed the part of Daisy, the child of Gerald Arkwrighb. The minor parts were also well sustained. It is one of the advantages of a good all-round Company like this thab none of the characters suffer. This pleasing drama will be again repeabed to-night.