THE BLAND HOLT SEASON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 10015, 30 December 1895, Page 5

THE BLAND HOLT SEASON.

"A LIFE OF PLEASURE." Tiik Opora Houeo waR packed again on Saturday night to witness tho final performance of Bland Holt's sensational drama "The Span of Life." The many stirring sensations of tho pieco were received with much enthusiasm, and the principal members of tho company wore repeatedly called beforo tho curtain. This ovoning Mr. Holt will present his third change of programme, and will produce the military and spectacular drama, "A Life of l'loasure," tho work of the late Honry Pettitt and Sir Augustus Harris. Tho production ia the heaviest in Mr. Holt's repertoire, and calls into requisition tho full strength of the company. For varioty of scone and incident, and above all for sensational occurrence and olaboratospoctacle, ib is said to bo remarkable. Thoro aro some specially fine sconos in tho production, notably amongst which may be mentioned the houaoboat scene on the Thames, tho music hall scene, and the biff military spectacle representing an engagement during the Burmese war. Tho basis of the plot is the betrayal of an Irish country girl, whose betrayer rofiises to marry hor, having another and more remunerative alliance in view, and cynically recommends hor to follow " A Life of Pleasure." Around and upon this foundation an interesting and moving story, with many subsidiary occurrences, is built up. Mr. Holt assumes tho parti of Captain Dandy, a military officer in charge of the troops, and in tho Burmeso scone he makes a sensational leap on his Australian hunter Zoo. Tho production in itsolf should attract largo audiences, and Mr. Holt is sure to have bumper houses for the run of tho piece.