THEATRE ROYAL.

Press, Volume XLV, Issue 7124, 21 July 1888, Page 6

THEATRE ROYAL.

" HANS, THE BOATMAN." Mr Arnold made his debut last nitrtitek the Theatre Royal in the piece with which his name is associated. It is one of thoa* charmiugly idyllic pieces which do no? fail to attract and enlist the sympathies of the audience. It is essentially o f th« domestic drain** order of pieces, reITU» more on the strong interest aroused bf the principal character and the littK people for whom he has so much IqVr There was a very good house u5 night to greet Mr Arnold ou hi» first appearance, and the performance tvet one which should draw large audience, during the stay of the company here M» Arnold, in the title role, at once enilaSS the sympathies of the audience andthroughout the piece, in which he is tSo central figure, played with a pathos am? force which showed that he is a thorough artist. In addition to being an actorof high merit, Mr Arnold is also a vocalist nf no mean order. His tirst song. " The Bahr Coquette," was excellently sung, and ha was encored, responding with a reT peat. His song, "Pleusures Await You" was excellently given, and in f(L jodellingsong, •'The Boatman's Lullaby" Mr Arnold exhibited that flexibility of voice which has made him so popular elsewhere. " The Daisy Chain," which opens and dosns the piece, was capitAhV sung, and in the " Hliiulnian's Bull"' Mr Arnold was al*o very good indeed. fii. Dutch patois is good throughout, and it was consistently carried out throughout the piece. In the scene in the first act with .Jcilie Mr Arnold was excellent and in the linale to the tirst act, where he' tell* his love for Gladys, he was also good As a whole Mr Arnold's impersonal tion of the boatman was a very tine performance, and one which must be seen to hv appreciated. Miss Alice Norton was good as Gladys, playing throughout the piece with great spirit and intelli geiu'e. Miss .Jus-ie Gray, as Jodie, the tomboy of the. piece, acted throughout with much success. Miss May liannan. the tiny actress, is wonderfully clever for her years. There is an absence of any. thing Mice mere repetition of the lines she has to speak, entering, as she docs, most thoroughly into the spirit and action of the part. In the "Baby Cuciuette" sons and '•The Little Gee Gee" she was pay. ticulnrly successful, and her actinu throughout would huve done credit to any actress. Air G. liryaiit, as Lieut, Finch was very pood, giving a manly re. presentation of the part, air W. Leaks, of whom Christchurch playgoers will ntain pleasant memories, played the part of Yank Thursby well. Mr Stewart and Mr Gladstone played the parts of Danett Vincent and Mr Karweli. Master Gardiner, as Little Hans, jfave evidence of careful training. .Mr Arnold's St Bernard dog, Lion, whs wonderfully clever exhibiting great intelligence in the manner in which he took up his cues and went through his part of Ihe performance. The children assisting in the performance went through their parts well. The piece was well put on the stage, the part first being particularly good. The piece will be repeated this evening.