THE PRINCESS'S THEATRE.

Evening Star, Issue 11068, 21 October 1899, Page 3 (Supplement)

THE PRINCESS'S THEATRE.

I Everybody ought to see Mr Bland Holt's latest and smartest play, 'Women and Wine.' The title may steady the desire of some theatregoers, ft possibly suggests to their minds a wild harum-scarum series of stage* spectacles. in which sense is sacrificed to* scenery and decorum gives plr.ee to dress or rather the want of dress. Any fancies of that sort are entirely erroneous. 'Women and Wine' is from a dramatic point of view the strongest and in some respects the best of the melodramas which Mr Bland Holt brings for the present tour. The :lrst act, especially, affords opportunity to display the acting- strength of the company, It might have been written by Bulwer Lytton, and would not disgrace Sydney Grundy. There is so much in the play that we can hardly spare space to set forth the plot at length ; and another reason for abbreviation is that we do not wish, by anticipating the story, to spoil the enjoyment of the public who will accept the recommendation of last night's audience and go and see the drama for themselves. Suffice it, then, to say that the tale deals mainly with the experiences of one Dick Seymour, a law student who comes into money, and for his money is enticed from his sweetheart by the lures of an adventuress, Marcel Rigadout, who squeezes his purse dry and then throws Dick aside as useless, carrying on her devices against several other likely victims, treating them all in the same heartless manner, until at length she meets her fate, being killed in a duel with knives by a jealous member of the demimonde. There are one or two points in the drama that might with advantage be elaborated. In the steeplechase scene at Longchamps the climax is reached rather hurriedly. We see the crowd watching the race, and almost simultaneously with the descent of the watchers from iheir points of vantage the defeated horse, which has fallen in the race, walks on to the stage. This is a mistake. Then, again, in regard to the duel, various formalities are observed, yet nobody pretends to examine the weapons and see that the antagonists are on an equality in that respect. Further, the final release of Seymour from the Court after standing trial for his life is too much of a scamper. Nfc one lets Dick go; he simply walks away, and there the play ends. In these respects the details may demand further attention. But, having said so much, it is only fair to give the other side of the case from the stage manager's point of view. If it has to be acknowledged that the three scenes are defective, a sense of justice compels us to add that the defects are a mere matter of comparison; that is to say, Mr Bland Holt has set a very high standard for stage work, and we therefore expect more from him than from" any other manager. The shortcomings referred to would not be noticed as such in the performance of an ordinary company. Even that admission is not sufficient to express all that is in our mind concerning the production of * Women and Wine.' We desire to say that in most respects it is a splendidly-mounted piece. Bar the duel, it is not so much dependent on sensationalism as other pieces in Mr Bland Holt's repertory, but it is essentially a picturesque drama, and absolutely the best acting play he has ever presented. As to the picturesqueness, we may mention the lovely stage picture of Malvern's funny hills in the first act as one of Mr John Brunton's happiest efforts with the brush; the view of a Paris cafe, thanks principally to the sprightliness of the rank and file of the company, who here put a lot of good work into subordinate parts, is a scene actually from the life ; the Japanese ball in Paris counts as one of the prettiest stage effects that this resourceful managerial staff has thought out, special recognition of Miss Beanie Gellatley's graceful dancing being called for ; and the flower market scene is peculiarly effective, because in some mysterious way the stage hands have contrivedto convey a sense of space although the available area is really small. These effects were duly recognised by an appreciative audience, who also bestowed high praise upon the acting all round and at frequent intervals loudly thanked the principals. Miss 'flame Ireland, cast as Marcel, excelled herself; Miss Frances Ross found her best part in the impersonation of the sweet English girl, Mary Andrews ; Miss Fitzmaurice Gill played with splendid force the part of the demi-mondainc; Mr Baker was never seen to better advantage than in the role of Dick Seymour; Mr Albert Norman was keenly alive to the requirements of his part of a bullying man about town; Mr Arthur Stvan undertook with much skill the representation of a French Caliban ; Mr Charles Brown was in his element as a comic father-in-law; Mr Kemp's portrayal of a blind artist was distinctly creditable ; Mi- Bland Holt found a congenial part as Charles Sawter, a young fellow who has married the lady upon whom his father is bestowing attention; and" Mrs Holt made capital out of the important character of the lady referred to. The comic side of the piece is uproariously funny on legitimate lines, the serious side is quite of the tragic order, and the company harmoniously bring the two together in* the ablest, manner. We strongly recommend ' Women and Wine' and foretell full /houses to the end of the season.