THE BLAND HOLT COMPANY AT THE PRINCESS THEATRE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2274, 30 September 1897, Page 39

THE BLAND HOLT COMPANY AT THE PRINCESS THEATRE.

" ONE OF THE BEST."

A visit to Danedin by Mr Bland Holt's company is always looked forward to with pleasure by theatre-goers. Jt was, therefore, nob surprising that a large audience should assemble at the Princess Theatre on Saturday nighb to greet them on the occasion of the inauguration of a new dramatic season by the company in this city. Bat it must have been highly gratifying to Mr Holb to see so many present, for nob only was the downsbairs portion of the house ss exceFsively crowded that many had to ba content with standing room, but the dress circle was also well patronised, only a few seats bfriog left unoccupied. The pieca produced was "Oneef The Best" — a spectacular military drama, written by Messrs Seymour Hicks and George Edwardes, and nob played here bsfore. Mr Bland Holt has earned the reputation of doing everything he puts his hand to thoroughly ; and, therefore, when it is stated that the drama was staged in a manner characteristic of all his productions it will be understood that there was little left to be desired in the way of mechanical efftcts and scenic contrivances. As might have been expected, the company met with a most cordial reception, Mr and Mis Holb, Mr Baker, Miss Watson, and Miss Frances Ross each being very warmly greeted as they made their appearance on the stage. The first two mentioned were especially favoured by tha audience, who applauded then continuously for some moments when they came before the footlights for the first lime. The performance was a decidedly successful one, and appeared to be highly enjoyed by all present. Not only were the principals recalled two or three times during the evening, bub the interest in the performance gradually increased as the nighb wora on, until at length when the curtain fell at the conclusion of the last acb they were worked up to such a pitch of enthusiasm that they cheered the performers vociferously. As regards the drama itself, ib is well constructed, and, on ' the ■whole, of a lively character. It has also a very brisk movement, and is, moreover, pervaded throughout by a broad vein of coiTK-dy which is distinctly refreshing. Tbe plot of " One of the Besb " is a very- simple one, the main incidents of the play being somewhat as" follows : — Lieutenant-general Coventry is in command of a Highland regiment stationed at Portsmouth, and ib transpires that certain State secrets leak oufc from his office in a way for which nobody seems able to account. However, after a time it appears that the general's own daughter, Esther Coventry, has something to do with the matter. A villain named Phillip Elsworth, the proprietor of Market Difcton Saw Mills at Portsmouth, wins her love, and through her agency he becomts possessed of secrets from the War Office, which he sells to Jules de Gruchy, an ageat of the French Government. For some little time the mischief goes on undetected. At length Phillip is on the verge of binkcuptcy, and wants £5000 to save him ffom financial ruin. This sum-Dc Gruchy off ers to give him if he will only obtain for * shorb time the plans of certain fortifications which are kept in General Coventry's office. At the instigation of the Frenchman Phillip persuades Esther to get possession of the plans for him. Esther ia at first very loth to do as he wants her to, but he assures her that no harm will come of her action ; and, by lying freely, gradually overcomes her scruples, and induces her to carry out his wishes. At same r.'sk of detection, ah,e secures the key of her father's safe, where the plans are kept, and one night, when tbe office is supposed to be closed, she meets Phillip by appoinfmsnt in the effics with the view of giving him *n opportunity to get the plans. No soonur hsd the two entered' the office than there was a knock "at the door. Esther in a great state of excitement, perceiving a military cloak in the corner of t'-ie,roooi, belonging to the general's right hand man — LieuLfuant Dudley Keppe!, — throws the cloak round Philiiu'ii shoulders iv the hope that the visitor will think that Philip is the lieutenant. She then goe? to the door and Rdmits the visitor, who turns out to be Private Jupp, one of the soldiers in the regiment, who had come to inquire if K<ppel had auy orders for him. Esther's plan uucceeds thoroughly in deceiving Jupp, who departs under the impression that Phillip is really Keppel. After the soldier had gone Phillip op^ns the safe ; and in the act of doing so causes an alarm which the general had connected with the door of the safe to be sounded outside of the office. The general, hearing the alarm, rushes into the office, and sees there a man whom he beliives to be Keppel. A struggle ensues, and the general is knocked down altnosb senseless, while Phillip quickly makes his disappearance, but without tbe plans, wh : ch in the scuffle fall on the floor. Kepp-1, who not long before had left the office with the intention of paying a visit to hi 3 fmncde, returns just after Phillip had left, p'eks up the crumpled plan?, and finds his superior officer lying on the floor. A squad of soldiers is marched in, and the general, believing that ib was Keppel who had attacked him, orders his arre3b. A courtraarbial ensues, and the lieutenant, baing found guilty of betraying bis country's secrets to a foreign Power, is sentenced to be stripped of his orders and to undergo penal servitude for life. Eventually Ether Coventry, who had given evidence against K>ppel at the courtmartial, finding herself jilted by Phillip, confesses ths whole truth to her father. K-ppel is thereupon reinstated into his former position, and everything winds up happily for everybody but the villain and the unfortunate woman whom he had deceived. As Lieutenant Dudley Keppel, a brave and honeet-hearted soldier, Mr Walter Baker had a part which suited him admirably ; his acting throughout being natural and effective. In the scene where Keppel is stripped of his trappings of his office after the courfcmartial he was particularly good, the audience manifesting their appreciation of his performance bj the heartiest demonstrationa of

approval. Miss Elizabeth Watson gava a very cipable representation of the character of Esther Coventry, the general's daughter, and showed that she had made a careful study of the parb. Miss Frances Ross appeared as Mary Penrose, a vicat's daughter, of a trustful disposi'ion, who is engaged to Lieutenant Keppol, and believes in his innocence depite the damaging evidence given against him at the courtmartial. Thep*rfc was one which well 6uited Miss Ross, and she made the moat of her opportunities, her graceful acting being the characteristic feature of her performance. Mr Bland Holb was exceedingly comical as Private Jupp, the son of a gravediggar, who, baing disappointed in love, eulists iv a regiment of Highlanders, which he, however, eventually leaves in order to niarry the girl for whom he had lost, as he said, firat his heart, then his home, then his liberty, acd finally his trousers — the latter allusion, of course, having reference to the fact that when Mr Jupp Joined his regiment ha was forced to wear kilts. The part -assumed by Mr Bland Holt was one in which ho thoroughly revelliid, and whenever he appeared on the stage he kept the audience in a high state oE good humour, nob infrequently eliciting uproarious outbursts of laughter. Mrs Bland Holt had a part which her to a nicety as Kitty Spencer, the maid who is responsible for Jupp's joining the army, and she was also largely responsible for the fun of the piece. On one occasion she appears at the office of General Coventry in a bicycle knickerbocker suib, and her interview there with Jupp, who at first does not recoguise her, was one of the most amusing among many divertiug passages of the play. Mr Charles Brown was well casb as Lieutenant-general Coventry, a soldier with a brusque and boisterous manner, bub possessing a kiudly heart ; aod Mr Albetfc Norman 88 Sir Archibald Macgregor, X.C 8,, looked well able to command any army, and portrayed his parb efficiently. Mr J.Cosgrove (as Phillip Ellsworth, the villain of the piece), Mr E. C. Corlesse (as Dr Penrose, the vicar of Market Ditbou), Rlr A. Harford (as M. Jules de Gruchy, a French spy), and Miss Flor.i Austead (a3 Mrs Spencer, the mother of K-fcty Spencer) all lent material aasi&tance in the production of the play. A number of subordinate characters were also filled by other members of the company ; while the presence of a large auxiliary force, including a brass band, pipers, Scotch dancers, and volunteers, made the performance additionally attractive. As has already been indicated, the drama was staged in a most complete manner. In illustration of the regardlessness of expense which Mr Holb shows in his desire to stage a production as effectively as possible, ib should t>3 mentioned that electric lights, provided by himself, were used on the ftage, on which gas only and limelights are ordinarily used, and the adv«antage of the former system of lighting was most markedly apparent on S tturday night. It remains oDly bo add that bobh the scenic arbists and the stage carpenters had sucuaeded admirably in their work, the getting to e*cb. scene being almost perfect. Alt she sets were good iv their several ways, bub the view of Portsmouth Harbour with the warships in sight most took ! the fancy of the audience, and when a large body of red-coated and busbied Highlanders, accompanied by a brass band, appeared in the foreground of this view, the scene was a very animated and brilliant one, and evoked loud demonstrations of approval. Altogether the drams went off remarkably well, and ib may reasonably be expected to draw good houses for the rest of the time it has to run.