The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1899-08-28
ROBERTSSCORES SUCCESS
HANS. THE BOATMAN" AT THE
OPERA HOUSE.


Give a Good Performance Saturday.
An idyl-that is what Hans, the
Boatman" must be termed. a prose
poem framed in the scenery of an Adj
rondack lake and humble cottage; a
tale of true love, not running too
smoothly and the development of as
sweet character as has been penned
by the playwright playful, winning,
quaint, gentle, touching; play whose
atmosphere is light as thistle down,
with little episodes as pure as virgin
snow, passages of delicate pathos and
tenderness and child like gaiety, which
will dwell in the mind long after the
mere story of the play has faded from
memory. Such was hidden under the
somewhat clumsy title of Hans the
Boatman."
The story of the play is simple. The
love of young city girl, Gladys (Madge
CorCoran), for the honest and winning
young boatman at summer lake re-
sort Hans III r. Roberts), the mar
riage of the two in opposition to the
wealthy fathers wish, and the conse-
quent poverty of the couple.
/ The second act shows the lovers six
! years after. Hans is still the same
/ light hearted, child-loving fellow as
ever surrounded by groups of children.
]
wearied of poverty. The villain, Oar
rell Vincent Erred Esmelton), persuades
/ her to leave the cottage and return to
her father, but in reality elopes with
her, and though she leaves him, stain
! remains on her name. Hans is left in
| the cottage and determines to lead a
more hard working life and no longer to
play with his troops of children To
/ this end he begins to burn up the toys.
Just as some one rushes in to tell him
his wife has run away, a toy mine eX-
plodes and Hans is blinded
The third act is of course devoted to
reconciliation. Hans wanders about the
country lead by his dog, when a young
doctor undertakes to cure his blindness
and succeeds. Gladys has her name
cleared, is forgiven by her father and is
reconciled to Hans, and the curtain
comes down upon happy set of char
acters.
This is all conventional enough, and
the play would be ordinary enough, but
for the rendering of Hans by Roberts.
Out of the character of Hans he con-
structed a poem, naturally and easily,
as every character he plays, it grew up
on one as a beautiful thing to be re-
membered The pretty gaiety of the
first act in the scene with the little girl
flrt GLADYS Bashford) was catching,
and dubbed over the footlights into the
house, making the audience feel light
hearted. The training of the child was
perfect and she was most graceful and
winning dancing with an abandon and
childish glee into which Hans entered,
as the real Hans should. Then in the
second act there was another gem where
Hans puts little Fritz to sleep. The ten
derness with which he soothed the lit
tie tot in his arms, the delicacy with
which he sung his lullaby was in the
vein of the highest art, for it all seemed
no art.
There were much stronger passages
than those referred to, the blind scene
, for instance where Hans talks to his
wife, not knowing who she is, and the
soliloquy when he determines to give up
playing with the children, and deter
mines to go to work more ZealOusly
than heretofore. The humor of the love
making scene and many of the scenes
with Jeffie Miss Maggie MoOre) were
each and all great opportunities. but
Mr.. Roberts emphasized the loveable-
ness of the character he portrayed and
his success marks him as an actor of
great ability, who has a future before
him.
The play is so essentially centered on
Hans as Mr.. Roberts plays it, that one
almost loses sight of the other charac-
ters in, thinking it over. Yet good work
was done by the company. Miss Maggie
Moore's Jeffie was very amusing and
played with a dash and brightness al
l her own. Her singing is really charm
ing, the voice sweet and clear, and the
notes coming without effort. Together
with Harry Finch (Alec Cochran) she
carried the humor of the piece with a
go" that was inspiriting. Yank
Thursby (Herbert Ashton) was a good
bit of character acting and make up
while Farwell CIV J. Townshend) an6
Gladys Farwell (Madge Corcoran) were
well portrayed, the former the iras-
chile father, and the latter the wilfu
daughter Miss Ethel Bashford made {
good little" Hans. HonOrs must also
go to the dag, Lion, who is a handsome
specimen of his tribe and played his
part of leading his blind master, and
finding the faintng form of Gladys, as
a true actor.
There is no doubt that in the Maggie
Moore H. r. Roberts Company there
are players above the average, who Civ,
wholesome, whOle-souled plays, tina
appeal to the higher intelligence anC
touch the springs of the nobler emo
tions.
J Tomorrow David Garrick" will b,
} given. This was created by the eide
SOthern after he had made his grea
success in Lord Dundreary," and h,
starred in both parts. H. r. Robert!
is said to play the character admirably
and he certainly has every capabilit!
for the part.