THE BLAND HOLT SEASON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 10008, 20 December 1895, Page 5

THE BLAND HOLT SEASON.

"THE PRODIGAL DAUGHTER." The Bland Holt season opened yosterday evening, at tho Opera House, when "The I'ndigal Daughter" was produced. There was a crowded audience downstairs, and a very fair one upstairs, all boing greatly delighted with the production. The pioco proved to be distinctly a stro.ig one, and little or none of its capacity for realism went to waste. The situations increased in intensity, and electric lighting was intro duced with great effect, particularly in the gambling scene. Bub tho strongest scene was that) of the racing stable on tho eve of the Grand National. A dosing of ono of the horses of course is introduced into tho piece, but horses aro changed and the favourite— dramatically—does nob got tho pill; and the dosing is done by the owners and backers of the horse dosed. The great spectacle, however, in tho production last night was the steeplechase itself. The once-seen-never-to-bo-forgotten water-jump and the finish of tho race wore givon, and even the side-scenes of a big racecourse were given most effectively. Miss Elizabeth Watson played excellently as Rose Woodmere, and excelled where she found herself doserted in Paris. She could scarcely have been better than she was. Miss Frances Ross looked and played well as Violet Wootlmere. It) was a part which required artistic portrayal and this it received. Mrs. Bland Holt, as Dorcas Gentle, the Quakeress, who cures her husband of his wildnesa by a sort of homeopathic troatmont, was vory charming. She acted the part) as an aotross and her comedy was fine and finished. Of tho male parts Mr. Bland Holt took that of Blinker, the stablo boy, of which, as ho always does, lis made tho most. Mr. Charles Brown too, as Dudloy Roper, was exceptionally consistent throughout and that in such company means much Mr. Albert Norman, as Maurico Deepwater, tho gentlemanly villian of the piece, played the part admirably. The whole of the other characters wero taken with uniform excellence, and that with nineteen in tho cast with a host of auxl lisricj Each and all looked and played their part and the staging was Bland Holt's. Tho piece will bo produced again this evening. -