RICE DRAMATIC COMPANY.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12816, 16 July 1912, Page 3

RICE DRAMATIC COMPANY.

■ . ■ . — In keeping with the splendid traditions of the Rice Dramatic Company for rendering assistance to worthy objects, the. -.public -'were last ni.jht given an opportunity to contribite to the had m aid of the widow and -children of tlie late R. K. Graham, while at. the same time witnessing the production of Henry Petit's stirring drama "Facing the Fee," a thrilling story bused on happenings during the Crimean war. There '.as a lari;..? attendance. Tlie play, which was fully enjoyed, was given m three parts, the first act opening 4 it Portsmouth, with a view of the Solent, and concluding with tha hero of the story, bag-rjai'-?cl m pocket and bankrupt m iove, goinj off to the war, and facing tho foe. The .second act shows the soldiers m the trenches, m the bitterly cold weather, and ,the incidents rnoy« m rapid succession, keeping- the spectators enthralled. The third, and final, act. is located m fe'eb&stopol, .m the house of ("ouiuess Woronzotf. For 3 time the plot thickens, aixl the villain lias a good innings for a whilo, but there is a quarrel among rogios, and finally events are so shaped tluit the villain, gets bowled out m splendid style, anil there is a happy climax, m which the righteous cause a* last completely triumphs. The drama was staged m a ; manner highly creditable to the str.yn. manager, Mr A. Rice, and the acting \vii.s very oreditablo tiiroiighout. a phasing feature being that the principals were ably supported by tlie other niembers of the company. Mis.s Rachel Hie;? had tho part of the heroine, Xadlne, - a- charming character, and. a? usual m ;i|l sho undertakes, played m finished rtyle, and was especially successful -m- the scenes that riia-ke the greatest demand upon the artist. Her acting m the reunion scene, towards the finish was admirable, and altogether the way m -which, she impersonated a charact rv requiring considerable skill : was «ua!v ns to make a. strong' impression en playgoers. Ihe part ot tho hero, Paul Davenant, wa« m the hands of Mr Alfiod Rice, jnn., who seemed specially qualified' for the character, and carried it through with complete success. He appears oryjinally as an- officer who has sold his commission because he is afraid to fight, but it transpires afterwards that love is the secret which possesses him, and he. subsequently. 11 m despair, joins a regiment as <i private, and snows such bravery that he gete the name of Neqk.oV-Nothjng. Being plowed 1 acfftin*t by villains, who £«*k tc *wjt*dle him put of the property which justly belongs to him, be gets entrappW m. > way that make 9 him appear as a spy, ana this cloud takf-s time to clear up m the unravelling of $ie plot. Mr Rice portrayed the \mvt m 'ft most convincing manner. The. role of Countess Woionzoff was finely acted by .M'ss Kstlier Dalroy, while Miss Ray Kelson infused plenty of life into the part of Mi»? Cleopatra. Bull, who Mas responsible for a good deal of the comedy- The rogues of the piece, ajsp supplied many huir.orouji ftaahes)* they quarrelled furiously when by themselves,' 1 and abused each other m a most amusing way, but directly anyone else appeared they became fast friends rgain, and went on plotting as before. Mr Tom HoMsworth, ut> tJie 'crafty Frenchman,' M.on.sieur Gricitoujlie, gaye a capital interpretation of the part, Hud wi£j) Mr 111 H. Ciark os Jonathan Bull, the pair played into each other's hands well, and provided a good, deal of fun^ m addition to supplying the darker shades that set off tha "heroine »nd hero to advantage. .As Colonel lidjertOH, Mr 'Jack had n good deal to <10, and di 4 it wel), excepting that his voice ppoduotion \v*is not as good ok usual, and at timeis those at a distance could not. hear his words clearly. He h«« previously given ample proof as to his elocutionary powers, 1 which perhaps made the point more noticeable last night. He gave a line soldierly portrayal of the part of the Oliver, "\.and acted effectively m the scenes m which he was prominent. As Mr John J)ave»an{,, Mr Harry Alley was very successful, whilst Mf Frank May made quite a feature of the minor part of Joe Cricket, putting m some line tou.ihes. of light comedy. Other parts ware taken successfully by Messrs Claude Loftus (Ivan fh loft), Harry Comston (Private ..Muqi'Uy), and \Vjlliam Ander--Bor, (officer), ajw Mjss Jean Carter (Monet, maid to the Com) less). # During an intervals, Mr J. C V,. Turner, representing tlie Trades and Labor (<viu<cii. under whose n-Uftpicet; the enterxuinment wap given, took tlie opportunity to thank the members of the company for kindly coming forward m the way they had done, giving the entertainment free of charge on behalf of the Graham f»ff(\. He proposed ■■a .vote of thanks to UlV fiomjwny, which was lesponded to by warm appfaiise nnd three cheers. Tlie music during ifte evening was played by Messrs Vita Bros., (Vnd the City Band played pelectiona outside the jheatre before the performance started.