ACTOR SERIOUSLY ILL

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIV, Issue 233, 14 September 1934, Page 4

ACTOR SERIOUSLY ILL

H.B. Drama League Player

MR. HALE SPENCER. OF NAPIER

Those who acclaimed Mr. Hale Spencer’s brilliant performance at the Hawke’s Bay Drama League’* festival in Hastings last night little realised that he took the boards despite serious illness. Today Mr. Spencer lies in the Napier Hospital in a serious condition. Ha was admitted at 3 o’clock thia morning suffering from severe internal haemmorhage as the culmination of a number of smaller attacks yesterday.

Mr. Spencer’s performance in the role of Charlie in the Napier Repertory Players’ presentation of the one-act play, “The Road of Poplars,’’ has been acknowledged as tho most brilliant ever given since the festival began. How much, then, is it enhanced by the fact that Mr. Spencer was seriously ill throughout yesterday and suffered three haemmorhages before he appeared to carry tho play through in such a remarkable performance! The doctor who was summoned to attend him in the early hour* of thia morning said that it must have been only sheer will power that enabled him to take part in the play at all. Friends who knew of Mr. Spencer’s illness yesterday attributed it to nervousness and the full significance of tho ailment wm not known until this morning. Mr. Spencer’s condition was reported at mid-d'ay to bo still serious. He will require careful and strict attention. There has been no recurrence of the haemmorhage since 3 o’clock this morning.

Mr. Spencer served with the N.Z.M.C. during the war.