The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1904-04-26
my FRIEND FROM INDIA"
WAS WELL PRODUCED.
A Well Balanced Cast in the Hands
of a Thorough and Competent
Stage Director.

mansion In new Iork Clty, was pro-
duced in this city Saturday night by
local talent, under the direction of Mr..
Harry Dupuy.
With amateur theatricals the home
paper as rule gushes with charity in
its writeup of the characters, covering
up the weak spots with rosy words of
commentator for Sally Jones. who "es-
sayed the role Of Lady Audley with
credit to herself" ETC., etc., when in
reality Susan Page, in herole Of Becky
Somebody" the maid Of all-work, was
far better performer than the much
lauded Sally Jones. The writeup is
passed on by the family and intimate
friends Of Miss Sally as the editors
best effort. The balance Of the popula-
ton think otherwise.
But in this instance, fattery is un-
called for, charity is not needed, and the
task of the writer is therefore made
easy because even balanced individual
effort and merit entered into the play
Saturday night to the extent that one
was made to feel that he was witnessing
a high-class play IN the hands of prof
essionals, not amateurs. The only line
of adverse criticism that can be advanced
is perhaps that two in the cast did not
speak their lines quite audible enough,
but their superb acting in manner
retrieved this deficiency. The talent of
the cast was exceptionally good to be-
gin with, and the success of the pro-
duction demonstrates what amateurs
are capable Of when placed under the
tutelage Of competent director. In
this instance Mr.. Harry Dupuy, who
has had considerable experience as
professional actor, has given the people
of Athena the best amateur performance
that has ever been staged here. The
house was filed to its utmost capacity.
The seats were filed long before the
opening overture was produced, and
later arrivals purchased tickets and
"hiked" out for chairs which they
brought in with them.
The Play and Players.
"My Friend From India" is one of
the standard farce comedies of the hign
class professional stage. 1t is three
act piece, and the cast, to present it in
telligently must necessarily be well
balanced and possessed of talent. The
production of the play here was richly
enhanced with the popular and fetching
Floradora music and songs, the lead be-
ing taken most effectively by Miss Vel
ma Wilkinson. The chorus embraced
the splendid voices Of Misses Eva
Rider, Amelia Stumpi, Gertrude Luna,
frankie James and Edith Mcbride.
"Ma Blushin' Rosie" was sung with
splendid effect by Miss Wilkinson, and
"Tell Me Pretty Maiden,' with the
three chappies and three girlies, was the
Floradora climax OF the evening. This
was followed by "Pretty Mollie Shan
non" aud "Coonville Cullud Band"
The Floradora girls we're clever to a
high degree, and looked bewitching in
handsome red costumes. The steps and
drills which they effectively introduced
was the hit OF the evening, The music
al program was lavishly interspersed
with piano selections by Mr.. Fred
Ruble.
As "Erastus Underholt," retired
packer, Dan Mcintyre makes fellow
think. His paternal ambition to secure
for his family recognition by New York
society, is the woof and warp of the plot
in my Friend From India" Dan was
virtually at home in the role, and in his
masterly way of unweaving the charac.
ter OF the wealthy pork packer he vivid.
ly told an everyday life story of the
metropolitan city He is by far the best
amateur actor it has ever been the
writer's privilege to see in performance.
Miss Nettie Cannon as "Bernice,"
daughter OF Erastus, was decidedly
equal to the part, and the tact she dis.
played in managing everything and
everybody in the household of Under
holt and an outsider or two, including
"Tom Valentine" her lover, was in
teresting Gertrude the other
daughter, who thought more of dad and
Kansas City than she did of dancing
master and society, was made splendid
in the acting OF Miss Elsa Rosenzweig,
who played the part with chic that
blended most harmoniously with the
spirit OF object and conditions.
''Charles," the son, was imperson-
ated by Archie McIntyre, and when he
introduced ga. Keen Shaver" the theo.
sophical barber, as his Friend from In
dia, the house went wild. Harry Du-
puy was in this role aud the manner in
which he aud Charles mixed things for
the Underholts and the audience was a
puzzle that remained unsolyed to the