The Stage.

New Zealand Illustrated Magazine, Volume IV, 1 April 1901, Page 561

The Stage.

THE CHARLES A. DEMIST OX, ID COls/LJPA.ISriZ'.

Charles Arnold Company has QJjjjm \A been and has gone. The loss is JIA JV New Zealand's. After the great "=pj reports heard from "the other side" as to the mirth-producing " Jones," the equally festive " Smith," and

W. H. Bartlett,

MR. CHARLES ARNOLD

the love-stricken " Professor, ' iNcw /ealanders were naturally anxious to make the acquaintance of these worthies. After seeing them one feels better, for in the way Mr. Arnold and his company produced them there was everything to admire and naught to condemn. "Free from all vulgarity, full of innocent fun, the vari-

oiis and varied com-

promising situations carefully staged and tho impersonations of tho different characters in the hands or' skilled artists, he would bo indeed a cynic who could not go away from the theatre feeling that " it had been good for him to be there." In addition to tho productions just mentioned the Arnold Com-

pany gave us also the ever - green and evorpopular *' Hans the Boatmen " and the not quite so well - known " Captain Frit/,." The former play — how well I remember the success Mr. Arnold scored in his first production of it in the Bijou Theatre, Melbourne — has lost none of its attractiveness, unless it be that the famous old dog, Lion, which accompanied Mr. Arnold on so Auckland, many of his tours, is

missing. Mr. Arnold- tells me that he died from old age in Johannesburg, and was buried with full honours. In Melbourne and Sydney, when the run of " Hans " was a prolonged one, a dog was hired and trained, but in New Zealand such a course was not possible, and the play had to be produced minus the dog.

" Captain Fritz," though not so well known as " Hans," caught on almost equally well, and gave Mr. Arnold the opportunity of singing some of his best songs. All New Zealand by this time knows the difficulties of "« Tones" and "Smith," and how skilfully those difficulties are overcome by the skill of the piny wright, so it is unnecessary to go into details as to the plots of these comedies — if plot there be in them. " The Professor's. Love

Story "' is, however, of an entirely different type, and Mr. Arnold's impersonation of the character of the simplejfand absentminded scientist, who falls in love with his secretary and does not know it, was a revelation to those who had seen him only in lighter veins.

The success which tho Company has met with throughout New Zealand has been due, not only to the skilful acting of Mr. Arnold, but also in a large degree to the all-round excellence of the Company associated with him.

Place aux .Dames. Miss Doit Frederic (Mrs. Arnold) has been charming in everything she has undertaken, but I must confess to liking her best in her old part of Jeffie Thursby.

The family mantle has fallen on little Edna Arnold and her clever acting in l 'Tlie Empty Stocking " and in " Hans the Boatman,'" when she plays the part of little Hans, gives promise of a brilliant future. '■

Miss Agnes Knight as Mrs. Goodly, l&vs. Smith, and the Professor's sister had widely different parts to play, and in all of fcherji she reached a high standard of excellence. ,

As a mirth provoker Miss Sallie Booth was second only to Mr. Arnold. It is hai-fl to say which was ;the cleverer bit of acting-, her Alviua Starlight (the old maid with tire innumerable letters and amorous tendencies),

i

or her Lavinia Daly, who is equally at home in cooking a bad dinner or in promoting a strike among the cooks. Miss Inez Bensuson, Miss Hope Mayne, and Miss Ada Lee did all that was asked of them to the satisfaction of their audience. Of the male characters no,ne had bigger opportunities than Mr. Willoughby and Mr.

E. W. Thomas, and availing themselves to the fall of those opportunities, they leave behind them^ery pleasant memories of their skilful work.

Mr. Denton will be heai'd of again. He is making rapid strides in the profession.

Mr. F. B. Sharp and Mr. Ed. Lester were not often called upon, but what little they had to do was very acceptable.

Of the various highly successful plays this talented company put on the stage during their run through Now Zealand, " The Professor's Love Story" was certainly the most attractive. While lacking tho extremely ridiculous absurdities in " What Happened to Jones " and " Why Smith Left Home," it was quite sufficiently amusing, and one could not help a feeling of undisguised affection and intense sympathy for the dear old Professor in his trouble, and deep concern as to what was the matter with him, and even greater affection for the unwitting cause of that trouble, his charming Secretary, an affection which increased when the simple old fellow, on being advised change of air by his medical adviser, looped his arm into that of his little Secretary and marched her off. with him, answering the expostulations of his friend that his other secretaries al ways went with him. No notice of the Arnold Company would bo complete without mention of Mr. L. J. Lohr — that prince of managers. He has been for so long a time associated with this and other companies that management seems no trouble to him. He talks of retiring from theatrical work on the spoils of his Australian and New Zealand captives, and I am sure that none

of these, whom he has led

Auckland,

captive by his genial ways and up-to-date arrangements for their pleasure and comfort, will grudge him his ofiwn cum diqnitate in one of those Bunny little bays nestling on the shores of the beautiful Sydney Harbour,

New &ealandei-K will probably have an opportunity of seeing the Arnold Company once again, and only once. Mr. Arnold tells me that liis future movements include

an extended tour throughout the Australian colonies, which will occupy some considerable time. After that, if arrangements can be made, he will pay us a flying visit, appearing for a week in each of the big towns. As he has been for twentyeight years before the footlights liy thinks he is entitled to a rest, and purposes making for London, where he will settle down into private life on some property he owns there. The stage will be the poorer for his retirement, if the retirement be permanent. I hardly think it will be. so, for there is a strange attraction for a popular actor or actress in the plaudits of the audience, and those

once enjoyed attract again irresistibly. So may it be with Mr. Charles Arnold. There is w. H. Bartlett, Very little danger oi : Mr. Arnold A s Count Von Guggenheim having to appeal to the " Distressed Actors' Fund " for assistance in his later years, as the enormous profits which he has made out of "Jones, Smith and Co." have all been securely invested — a great portion of them in New Zealand property and Companies' shares. He is a strong believer in the future prosperity of this colony, and the money he has received from its people he leaves with them for the beuetit, not only of himself, but also of the colony.

Auckland.