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AMUSEMENTS.
THEATRE ROYAL.
The close of Mr. Charles Arnold a short
season at the Theatre Royal was marked
on Wednesday evening by a revival of the
highly successful and laughter compelling
comedy "What Happened to Jones," and
almost needless to say -the theatre was
crowded to overflowing with a merry and
enthusiastic audience. His extensive tour
through Australia and New Zealand has by
no means impaired the spirits or lessened
the 'fund of 'humor of the irrepressible
''drummer," who travels for a hymn-book
house and sells playing cards as a side-
line, and his breezy impudence, airy per-
silage, and unfailing good-nature kept the
spectators in a constant roar of laughter
from the rising to the falling of the curtain.
The comedy is pure and wholesome
in tone, the characters Well drawn, the
dialogue crisp and sparkling, and the fun
fast and furious, and therefore there is
little wonder that "What Happened to
Jones'' flies proved a veritable mascots to
its fortunate proprietor. Mr. Charles Arnold
is as volatile and audacious as ever
as the ubiquitous "bagman," his efferves-
cent humor, his mercurial movements, and
his everlasting resourcefulness convulsing
the audience whenever he is on the stage.
His quaintly original proverbs when masquerading
in the clerical garments of the
theologian from Ballarat proved as of yore
extremely diverting, and "Jones" will long
remain a pleasant memory in the gallery
of character impersonations with which Mr.
Arnold has been associated. Mr. George
Willoughby as the Professor of Compara-
tive Theology of Ballarat College repeated
a singularly clever and consistently humorous
performance, all the more droll because
the presentment of the character is carried
out on thoroughly legitimate lines. without
exaggeration and with no semblance of
straining after effect. Mr. Frederick B.
Sharp, who made his first appearance this
season on Wednesday evening, met with
a warm welcome, and as the nervous, fussy,
and much-tried Ebenezer Goodly, was responsible
for much of the fun of -the evening.
Miss Dot Frederick is as bright
piquant, and winsome as ever, Miss Agnes:
Knights is graceful and gracious as the
fashionable wife of Ebenezer Goodly, Miss
Sallie Booth is as amusing as of yore as
Alvina Starlight and Miss. Ada Lee re-
peats an exceedingly diverting character
sketch as the imperturbable Swedish ser
Arant. "Why Smith left Home" attracted
a crowded matinee audience, and Mr. Arnold
and his clever company will leave
by the Orizaba to-day for the West, where
they may be assured of a hearty welcome.
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