What Happened to Jones and "Why Smith Left Home."

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 11664, 25 January 1901, Page 2

What Happened to Jones and "W hy Smith Left Home."

TnE plays chosen by Mr Arnold as the attractions of his third Australian tour, were George H. Broadhurst's farces "What happened to Jones " and " Why Smith Left Home." Occasional whispers had reached Australia of the emphatic success of the plays m England and America, consequently Melbourne playgoers, having also a solid faith, born of previous experience, in Mr Charles Arnold, expected something good. They were certainly not disappointed, for the fares proved to be far and away the best thing of their kind yet seen in Australia, and immeasurably funnier than either "Charley's Aunt," or "The Private Secretary." Sparkling dialogue and side-splitting situations galloped along in double harness, as it were, without ouoe dropping to a canter, and so firm was the hold which the fun of it soon got upon the* whole community, that Mr Arnold had to extend his season in Melbourne by several weeks, while "Jones" and "Smith " continued to attract such immense audiences that the receipts exceeded all previous records at the leading play-house of Australia. To see the rollicking Jones and the blythesome Smith has been as fashionable a craze as to see the Rev. Mr Spalding was fifteen years ago. Anyone who fails to make the acquaintance of "Joces" while he is travelling with his hymn-books and playing cards -through New Zealand, will assuredly miss one of the heartiest laughs of his or her life. Mr Arnold's two nights' season in New Plymouth will commence next Tuesday night at the Theatre "Royal with ":What happened to Jones "; and "Why Smith Left Home " is billed for Wednesday night. The box plans are now. on view at Mr t Gilmour's