ABBOTTS OPERA HOUSE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9144, 28 August 1888, Page 5

ABBOTTS OPERA HOUSE.

- -- • "HANS THE BOATMAN." After a good deal of expectancy and no little amount of eagerness on the part of those who were and are desirous of seeing the boards of the Opera House occupied by a professional company of good repute, "Hans the Boatman," under the guidance of Messrs. Brough and Boucicaulfc, appeared last night. The company brought with them a high reputation, and theatre-goers were led to expect a rare treat, and we do not think the audience last night had any reason to complain of disappointment. The synopsis of the plot, which we have already published, enabled the on-lookers to follow the characters and incidents with sufficient interest bo prevent them from at any time losing the thread of the story, but after all such is only what the libretto is to the opera, very uninteresting reading indeed, unless it is heard with all its rich surroundings of music and dressing. It is so with " Hans the Boatman." No description can even colourably represent its various shades and brilliancies, for it appeals more to the feelings than to the senses, and the play, full of mirth and comedy, reaches in someof its incidents,phases which requirethe highest form of dramatic delineation. The play was written by the author of " Struck Oil," for Mr. Charles Arnold, who appears in the title role, and ho has undoubtedly made the character his own. In many phases of the character he reminds us of J. K. Emmet tas " Fritz." There is the same happy blending of good nature, easy humour, and something of the same mellow expression in German-English, and there is the same depth of honest integrity and uprightness, and a sincere belief in those he loves. Of course the parts are widely different, and Mr. Arnold we feel sure will feel it no slight to be compared with one whose every movement on the stage when impersonating his favourite part was artistic and poetic. From his first appearance on the stage, with his boat-load of happy picnic children and his dog, he held the audience enthralled. His movements were natural in the extreme, even in the minor details, and in the more powerful phases, as for instance the love-making scene with Gladys, ho rose to the occasion. His easy, indolent nature was finely illustrated in his final play with the child, whom he sings to sleep before burning up the toys which were his temptation to idleness. The terrible explosion which rendered him blind was frightfully realistic, and his subsequent appearances, when led in by his dog, were thoroughly characteristic. There was a fervour of feeling exhibited when he tore the bandage off his eyes at the risk of losing his sight fprever, in order that he might see his child, which evoked a storm of enthusiasm, and his implicit trust in his wife's honour at the close was remarkably effective. Mr. Arnold is a thorough artist. He merges himself so fully into the character that he cannot be separated from it, and he fully and amply sustains the high reputation he has brought with him, and thoroughly delighted nis audience. He was supported in the best manner by the other members of the company. Miss Alice Norton played a very powerful pathetic role as Gladys Farwell, exhibiting a high order of dramatic talent, while Miss Jessie Grey, in the masculine name of Thomas Jefferson Thursby, displayed a keen appreciation of all the matter-of-fact reality of a genuine rough diamond, which, when the edges were rubbed off, displayed the purity and brilliancy of the woman's heart beneath. The children's parts of Little Hans (by Master Gardner) and Fritz and the Baby Coquette (by little May Hannan), were wonderful exhibitions of juvenile precocity. Mr. W. H. Leake plays a fine role as the bluff, honest old boatman, Yank Thursby ; and Mr. Bryant has a very nice part, to which he thoroughly adapts himself, as Lieutenant Finch, the persevering lover of Jeffie, whom he finally succeeds in making his own. Mr. Phil. Stuart represented the somewhat thankless part of Darrell Vincent, the villain of the plot, and he does it with a good deal of effect, the impersonation being remarkable for gentlemanly sangfroid and utter heartlessness. Mr. E. Gladstone has a goody)ld man's part as Mr. Farwell, father 01 Gladys, and plays it effectively. Amongst all the company there was, however, none more conspicuous than the dog Lion. A fine type of the St. Bernard, the dog seemed to thoroughly enter into his part. The scenic effects in the three acts were admirable. The Lake shore and the boatman's cottage are excellent in detail and effect, and altogether the play is dressed, mounted, and acted with an efficiency which leaves nothing to be desired. " Hans the Boatman " will hold the stage during the whole of this week, and we are sure that; it will draw large audiences, for it possesses features which attract the feelings and attentions of all classes of theatre-goers.