THE THORNTON-ARNOLD COMPANY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9580, 3 August 1894, Page 5

THE THORNTON-ARNOLD COMPANY.

"HANS, THE BOATMAN." : There was a large and appreciative audience last evening at the Opera House to witness the revival of Hans, the Boatman," one of the most popular plays in Mr. Charles Arnold's repertoire. It is some five years since Mr. Arnold and his faithful dog Lion and the "kiddies"first graced the Auckland stage- The touching love story was well illustrated. Gladys Farwell, a lady of high degree bub shallowminded, marries her boatman, instead of letting him marry the girl who gave her heart to, him— Thursby; the city-bred fashionable girl, having married because it sounded romantic, leaves her boatman because, cut off by her father, she does nob like the practical side of romance ; poor Hans has a rude awakening from bis dream of happiness, and in a fit of remorse he burns the kiddies' toys, and by an explosion loses his eyesight, and finally, after a year's wandering with Lion, meets his little boy, his eyesight is restored, and his reconciliation with his penitent and heartbroken wife closes the scene, . The central figure in this stage poem is, , c of course, Hans Beckel, the good-natured Swiss lad, who is too busy to work, and has only time to play with the kiddies. During the evening,' assisted by his juvenile associates, he sang "The Daisy Chain" and . " Blind Man's Buff," introduced " This Little I'ig Went to Market," with little Edna Blanche on his' knee; warbled " Baby's Learning to Walk" to a tiny mite, and gave " The Baby Coquette," assisted by the - pretty by-play of little Jessie Mead. < Miss Agnes Knights, as Gladys, gave a good rendering of the erstwhile wayward bub penitent wife. Miss Dot Frederic, as Jeffie, at last finding her affinity, played with spirit and piquancy. Mr. E. W. Thomas gave a capital portraiture of the gruff old boatman Yank Thursby, and Mr. Frank Gates played well as Lieutenant Finob, Jeffio's lover. Mr. F. W, Leonard gave a good representation of the stubborn and proud father of Gladys; while Mr. Peroy Brough took the part of the villain, Darrel Vincent. A word of praise is due to little Jessie Mead, who took the part of young Hans, and Miss Edna Blanche, a little dot, who played the role of The Baby. -Last of all, bub nob least, comes Lion— same highly-trained, affectionate dog, with almost human intelligence, who enjoys the fan, and bears his years lightly. " Hans, the Boatman "is capitally mounted, and* the scenery showing the Schrom lake is ; admirably < painted. The piece will be repeated to-night, and " The Private Secretary" is billed for to-morrow evening. \r. : -- ; -':■■?.