THEATRE ROYAL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5490, 15 February 1896, Page 6

THEATRE ROYAL.

That Mr Bland Holt has succeeded in ■ gauging the public taste is evidenced by the fact that throughout the whole of Ids season he has drawn crowded houses, and last night was no exception. The piece then presented was Henry Pettitt's strong domestic drama, A Woman's Revenge. Though each of Mr Holf s productions has been excellent, the general opinion last evening appeared to be that he had reserved his finest piece until the last. It is a drama in which the interest is maintained throughout, culminating in the trial of the heroine for murder, a charge upon which she is, happily, proved guiltless. The plot , turns' on thVinyeiglement of the hero and the heroine by a couple of, villains, the former into ruinous speculation, and the latter, into . jealousy as . to. her husband's fidelity. , Of , the ' action of the piece it may fee /said : \ The marriage, of Miss Lonsdale "(Miss "Elizabeth Wateon), "an heivess, to Frank Drummond (Mr W. 12. Baker), a wealthy young barrister of artistic tastes, is resented by Robert/ Overstone (Mr A. Norman), the son of a well-to-do merchant. With the aid of Jeptha Grimwade, a solicitor (Mr J. Cosgrove) and Mabel Wentworth (Miss Frances Ross), an adventuress, husband and wife are led to mutual distrust, succeeded by separation, while Frank's fortune is speedily reduced to very small proportions. A quarrel between Overstone and Grimwade as to the division of the plunder leads to the murder of the former by the lawyer. Circumstantial .evidence, however, throws the blame on Mary Lonsdale, but she 13 proved innocent after all hopes of establishing the fact had been abandoned by her counsel, who retires from the case, his place being taken by her husband, who turns the tables upon Grimwade, and the fall of the curtain finds the husband and wife re-united and the lawyer in custody on the charge of murder. In the first two acts of the drama there is some very good comedy, which serves as an excellent foil to the exciting and sympathetic scenes which follow, culminating in the trial ,scene,at ( the Old Bailey. Miss Watson clid "ftill justice to the ..trying" ,ipart of the heroine: Hei pathos: in .the emotional " scenes' with her child and her .husband, and her . vigorr . bus repulse "of Overstone's advances when lie thought he had her. in his power, were powerful pieces of acting, and .won for her rounds of applause. Miss Ross, in the part of the adventuress (Mabel Wentworth) was seen for the first time here in this class of acting, and she established a most satisfactory impression. Little Brightie Smith gave a most intelligent rendering of the part of the child, and Miss Flora Anstead, as the servant, did the work that' fell to her share with credit. Mr Baker, in the role of the hero had an extremely trying part, and did full justice to it. The part of Grimwade, the' murderer, lost nothing in the hands of Mr Cosgrove, His portrayal of the horror, of the conscience-stricken man being a very fine one. His partner in crime, Robert Overstone, was naturally acted by Mr A. Norman. The comedy of the piece was supplied by Mr 'and Mrs- Holt, who, as usual, pleased the audience immensely.. Their courtship was very amusing, . while their quarrel scene kept the audience in roars. All' the minor characters were in capable # hands. The piece wad mounted with every attention to detail. I The opening scene, a beautiful seaside picture, and the representation of a drawing-room atSt John's 1 Wood, with 'coloured electric lights, were extremely handsome. Thecourt scene in the 014 Bailey -was a faithful reproduction of the celebrated seat of justice. The orchestra,, under Mr Percy Kehoe, contributed much to the enjoyment of the evening, the conductor introducing in the dark scenes a" novelty in the shape of a b&ton surmounted by an electric lamp. A Woman's Revenge will be repeated this evening, and the company will leave for Lyttelton by train at 11.30 p.m. to catch the steamer for Dunodin, where they open i on .'.Tuesday... : .