BLAND HOLT COMPANY.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XVI, Issue II, 11 January 1896, Page 33

BLAND HOLT COMPANY.

A WOMAN’S REVENGE,’ which was staged for the first time on Saturday, is a play of a different type to those that preceded it. It is defined in the bill as a comedy-drama, and until a better system of classification is adopted the definition must, I suppose, be allowed to pass. Its pervading tone, however, is distinctly melodramatic, and the chord most frequently struck belongs to the lyre of Melpomene rather than that of Thalia. As with all melodrama, a note of unreality runs through the play. The tendency to speechifying by the hero and the villain is, of course, one of the traditions of this style of drama for which Pettitt cannot be held responsible. The improbability of much of the plot also has an authority equally venerable, and in this connection it should not be forgotten that the factor of time, which does so much to render the improbable not merely probable, but frequently inevitable, is in the main beyond the reach of the playwright, and at the best can only be vaguely indicated by the fall of a curtain. In short, the faults of ‘ A Woman’s Revenge ’ are the faults of melodrama in particular, and of stage-land in general. On the other hand, its beauties are its own, and they are by no means despicable. Not the least noticeable of them is the way in which the interest is sustained up to the very last moment. The last act, indeed, is as good a last act as I remember to have witnessed in the directions of realism and enthralling interest. The murder scene is also capitally worked up to, and for delicate pathos the scenes introducing the child, Mary Lonsdale, have not often been surpassed. Of the acting and staging it is unnecessary to speak. Both were alike admirable, but a special word of praise should be given to the child, Brightie Smith, who took a fine part with a spirit and naturalness which form a happy omen for her future as an actress. Mr Bland Holt and his charming wife were, as usual, the life and soul of the play in its lighter vein, and the admirably written scene in which the newly-married couple make a mutual discovery of poverty went with a vigour and brightness that entirely captivated the audience. ‘ Saved trom the Sea ’ will be the next piece staged.

MdixE. Yvette Guilbert may or may not be engaged to be married. She does not deny that she is, but she won’t say that she is not. Why should she be ‘ obliged to tell people ?’ She had had, she said, quite a number of telegrams and letters from enterprising journalists asking her as to the truth of the story of her intended marriage with a Stock Exchange notability ; but she was determined to reveal nothing. But she did reveal something after all. The Daily News says that she spoke as follows :— ‘ I have often been told that I belong to the public, but it really seems that in this case curiosity has been carried rather too far. Moreover, Ido not know myself whether I shall get married, and if I did I should not be obliged to tell people. It is true that for two years past I have been on very good terms with Mr , who is not an old man, but a young man of five-and-thirty. Thanks to his advice I have gained /’6,000 in gold-mine speculation ; but I have ,£40,000 of my own which I have earned by my own work, and at present I am still earning £ a night. On November 25th I embark for America ; but as I have decided to enjoy the fortune I have made, I shall retire in two years’ time and live as I please. If I should then choose to marry, has anyone a right to object ?’ At any rate, with the interest on ,£’46,000, and receipts at the rate of ,£’2B a night, Yvette Guilbert, in the course of two years, will surely be able to live as she pleases—either with or without a husband.

A writer in Onze Courant has been tabulating statistics about South African millionaires. He estimates

that Messrs Rhodes, Alfred Beit, J. B. Robinson, F. A. English, Piet Marais, and B. I. Barnato are worth- -or rather own— £39, 000,000 among them. Mr Beit is credited with being the richest with ,£‘12,000,000, and Mr Barnato comes next with j£’to,ooo,ooo. The others are set forth as follows: —Mr Robinson ,£’7,000,000, Mr Rhodes ,£5,000,000, Mr English ,£3,000,000, and Mr Marais £2, 000,000.