BLAND HOLT SEASON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10020, 6 January 1896, Page 5

BLAND HOLT SEASON.

"A WOMAN'S REVENGE." The fourth pleco given during the present season by Mr. Bland Holt and bis company, was produced on Saturday evening, at tho Opera House, in the presence of a very large and markedly appreciative audience. The drama," A Woman's Revenge," is from the pen of Henry Peltitt, and is strong in dialogue and situation, though, being of the " domestic" order, it affords comparatively little scope for those startling sensationalisms in which Mr. Holt usually revels. Th« staging, however, is admirable, that of Chilton Villa being particularly good, the electric light also being again very effectively introduced into the interior sets. There is nothing very original in the plot. A disappointed lover, Robert Overstone, allows his wrath to simmor until he can seize an opportunity for revenge. Under the mask of friendship he lures his successful rival, Frank Drummond, a young barrister, into business speculations which spell financial ruin and charges of fraud, Then, in the absence of Drummond, who, be thinks, has been arrested, and aided by Mabel Wentworth, an adventuress, who has in ber heart "the fury of a woman scorned," because she had once thought to have entrapped Drummond, Robort Overstone succeeds in making Mary, Drummond's wife, believe that her husband is unfaithful. She leaves the house. Drummond is informed that she has eloped with' Robert; ho follows. They do not meet, howovor, until Drummond finds where his wife has been living out quietly her life of sorrow and lovofor him. Into thequietude of this home Robert Overstone has forced his way. The uion meet and quarrel; and Mary, taking her child with her, flees from tho place. The next morning Overstone is found dead, with a bullet through his heart. Mary is arrested and arraigned for murder, the chief witness against her being her own little girl, She, however, is defended by her husband, now convinced of her innocence, who in cross-examination of ono Jeptha Grimwade, a solicitor, and a partner of Overstono's, establishes the fact that the chief villain had, on the day of the murder, withdrawn every penny of tho firm's bank balance with the intention of absconding, that he had been followed by Grimwade, whoso guilt of tho crime is conclusively proved by the arrival of Dick Chilton, a clerk, who has discovered tho whole of the notes, taken from the bank by Overstone, socreted ah Grimwade's chambers. Then, of course comes happy reunion for the good, fend discomfiture for the bad. Through the whole drama, bub more especially in the earlier stages, there is a bright vein of comedy. This is supplied chiefly by tho lovo-making of Lottie Bromley and Jack Chilton, who both are under dolusions as to the other's financial position. These two parts are exceptionally v-sll taken by Mrs. and Mr. Bland Holt. Miss Elizabeth Watson is at her best as Mary; there is no exaggeration in her emotion; throughout ib is natural. Miss Frances Ross* Mabel Wentworth is ono of her best efforts of the soason. And too much praise can scarcely be accorded to Brightie Smith, who plays as littlo Mary Drummond's child. She is childlike in her naturalness, and yet not childish. Mr. W. E. Baker has a part thab suits him in Frank Drummond, and Mr. J. Cosgrove is good as Grimwade. Mr. R. E. Inmanisnotas strong as ho mighb be as Robort Overstone. The other parts, of which there are many, are all well filled. The piece will be givon again this evening.