"HANS THE BOATMAN."

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1897, 19 July 1888, Page 2

"HANS THE BOATMAN."

The house which greeted the Initial performance In Ashburton of " H»ns the Boatman " last evening at the Oddfellows' ' Hall must have been very gratifying to the management. The reserved Beits were all taken up, and the back of the hall and the gallery was fully crowded. The play itself was one calculated to monopolise the sympathies, and its lightness only varied occasionally by a slight shadow, made It all the more interesting. The opening scene was well staged, and was universally admired. The portions of the play whioh drew forth the applause and admiration of the audience were those where •' Hans " and the children congregate on the stage. The soeneß I and singing on these occasions were really I well executed. Mr* Arnold seemed so much at home with his youthful playmates that, for the time being, the idea lof play aotiug wan lost, and only the natural romps and speeches of auoh a oharaoter were thought of. The baby ooquette, a midget of some four or five summers, displayed wonderful ability as an actress, while " Little Hans," who had seen a couple of frosts more, was also installed as a general favorite.' The St, Bernard do?, Lion, with the group of children, and the fantastically, dressed boatman "jidelllng" forth his quaint airs will not likely be forgotten In a hurry. The younger portion of tbe audienao was specially delighted with ''Hans," while the older, though they might th ; nk the play itself very imperfeot, cannot deoy that only the moßt capable ao.lng could make lb what It is. Certainly there was novelty In every line, and Hans, Jeflfie, and old Yank were a trio to put " go and life" Into any play, and Imbue It when neoessary with deep feeling of the best kind.

The play is easily outlined, and from the time when we first see " Hans," until he leaves the stage, the interest la maiu- ! tamed throughout. The Company m I every way is a successful one, and " The Boatman " is likoly to have a very suo oessful ornlse through New Z9»!and. The managers who have brought the Company over, are likely to reap a good harvest froip their ventyre. " Huns " Is the creation of Mr Arnold, and the saliont features of his chac-JOter are much what W© are accustomed fop m personations of this oluß3. He Is jolly and hearty, like *he conventional waterman, and shouts his boatman's call hb lustily as ever did the ''Jolly Young Watorqaan," or the Individual immortalised In " Twickenham Ferry." Tho boatman of Hara dnpuita m Borne Instances from onr aoouatomed idea of the char aoter, and it Is m those departures that Mr Arnold makes his beat bits and soores his Bucoesses. Our hero is a Swiss Canadian, and withal of good constitution and a merry disposition. In his moral tone he alms high, though his jollity, combined with a handsome appearauoe, do not fail to make him admired by the numerous fair ones who cross at his ferry. In ihe course of his vocation he becomes acquainted with an heiress — Gladys Farwell— (Miss Alioe Norton), who Is at once attracted by his handsome ralon and pleasant musioal voice. The olty girl falls a victim to Intense admiration of " Hans " «nd everything for a time looks as If true love for the nonoo|waß abouttorun particularly Bmootb, and all was m poetical linkage likely to " go merry as a marriage bell." The stern and unyielding parent has, however, not been consulted In the little game tho two loveps have been playing, and It so happens that when ho appears on the scene, Gladys prefers her jovial " Hans " with his rollicking manner and fine tuneful voice to tho splendours ofj a parental mansion where everything is refined though severe. In aot the Becond the working out of the Incongruous match and yonthfal lovesjcknoss showß Itself, and Gladys Is left to poverty, while love for the time being 1b overwhelmed. Then there Is separation, poverty, apparent alnme, and generally the opeulng tune of i>y is replaoed by a wall of aadneßs, "Bans" looeo hla ?'ght for a tima, through an aocldont, just as he Is about to ' start reformation In his ohonoter and take a more eerlom view of the things of thla life P'jforo the ourtaln falls, however, overythlug U brought about to an end satisfactory to nearly all concerned, The musio with which tho play is studded Is light and oharming, aud "Hans" can carol lustily when he feels disponed, his Tyrolean refrains being very good and taking. The acting and business between '• Hans" and tho children who take part m the play is clever and natural. There seems no straining after effoot. f'Hans" en^ra Into the amusements of tho youoggtors with genuine Relight and simplicity, and perhaps this portion of iftp play is tho njost favorably received of nny of tho aflepeg. All tho lmprobabl'ltles of the play are made 'o ar>em quite natural, and as matters of coarse, by reaioa of the aapctbie acting of the whole oast. Lion, a well framed St Bernard dog, ooouples a prominent situation m the seoond aot, and does his part with an evident appreciation of the importance of U. *£he phlldron are " dear little creature*," as a matter of oourso, and they do very well indeed. Miss Alloc Norton acts genuinely and with due effect, and Miss Jessie Grey as the unmistakable "rough diamond" filled a difficult part with orodit and acoaptance. Mr Leake — who In the play oi •* My Partner," won his laurels m that pieoe by the Qao d^aigatio style m whioh' he used nightly to ejfolalm "My (Jod} My partner 1 Dead!" — was mi n ao °d f° r W W* ia kty a Suitable part In a strong oomo! na ' lor »' . ®* Gladstone and Mr Bryant fillod their parts ."?• oeptably, and tho smoothness of the play is due to the strength and capability of the Company. The sconery was excellently staged, and the whole mounting of the piece m unison with tho capability of the Company. Tho play will bo repoated this evening, and those who wore unable to be present last night, should not miss an opportunity of witnessing ono of the best presented musioal oomedydr&maa that Ashburton has seen far some considerable time.