The daily sentinel., 1907-10-09
GREAT AUDIENCE
HEARD Mr.. RICE
Magnificent and Remarkable Read.
ing of the Famous Play, David
Gnrrick."-As Interesting
as Stage Production.

''iSt iTouuCilOn.
q A splendid evidence Of the =
q regard III which Phidela Rice K
q the Grand Junction young man K
q who bids fair to rank as one x
q of the greatest entertainers on x
y the American lyceum platform. x
q is held by the people who know x
( MN best-the people of his X
q home town-was embodied in x
q the size of the audience that x
q heard him last night at the x
. Methodist church x
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
On numerous occasions in past
years Mr.. Rice has given recitals in
Grand Junction. and the size of the
audience on each occasion demon
strated that Grand Junction is al
ways delighted with an opportunity
to listen to the superblv talented
| young man. Last night was the
first time he had given recital here
il over year. The main auditor
ium of the church and the lower
! floor CT the Sunday school room We're
filled to overlooking 1t was truly
! a representative and an appreciative
audience.
The Sentinel believes that David
Garrick" is Mr.. Rices best effort. In
! the presentation of this famous old
play, impersonating every one of the
| different characters, he has undoubt-
edly scored a great triumph; and the
fact that he aroused the highest en-
| thusiasm and called forth storm af-
ter storm of applause last night is
not to be wondered at. Wasn't 1t
| fne?' isn't he create" were express
sions to be heard Oh every hand. No
one who heard Phidela Rice last
night could entertain a doubt re-
garding his marvellous ability or
keep from feeling that he is destined
to stand among the great princes of
entertainers of the country.
The most difficult task that
reader, an impersonator or that an
actor may undertake is that of por-
traying and delineating in the same
evening a number of widely varied
characters that go to make up the
cast of play. 1t is hard enough
for well balanced and capable COM
pany to give a satisfactory and pleas
iLg production of a play; but when
one man essays to give an entire |
play himself, letting the impersona-
ton of one character quickly follow |
the impersonation of another, the |
difficult nature of the undertaking |
is readily understood.
David Garrick.' the English ser
io-comic theatrical classic. gives |
room for ten characters. each widely |
different from the others. The story |
Of the old play is well known to the
reading public. The three acts con-
tain many interesting situations, nu-
merous unique scenes: there is a |
blending of the humorous with the
erious, of the beautiful with the not |
so beautiful, of pathos with glad
ness, or sorrow with joy. The great
est portion and scene of the play
is where Garrick, the great actor.
true to his promise to the old fathe
to cure the pretty daughter of her
sudden infatuatiol for the great ac-
tor, plays the drunken man at din
ner et the fathers home and there
by thoroughly disgusts the daugh-
ter. Garrick learns. too late to
break his promise, that he loves the
sirl. The next act finds the girl !
in possession of the true facts She
refuses to marry the aristocratic fop
selected for her by her father, flies
to Garr'cF and then comes the hap
py tnl miuation of the play,
Mr.. Rlce was splendid in his hand
ing of every one of the characters |
HIS transition from one to the other
was astounding. So perfectly did he
each character that the
audience had no trouble whatever
ia telling in an instant which char
acter was speaking without being in
formed by Mr. Rice. Garrick the
actor; Ingot, the GRABBED old father;
Chivy the silly, empty-heaIed fop
Mr.. Smith, the grasping and rough
business man; the boisterous Mrs,
Smith: the tragic Mr.. Prown; the
Mr. Jones; the poetic Miss
Brown, and the sweet Ada Ingot-
each was made living, moving be-
ing by Mr. Rice. His work in each
role was superb. 1t would be hard
to tell in which role he was the |
most perfect. His Interpretation OF
each character was ideal and almost
His facial work was more
than clever. He swayed his audi
ence from laughter to seriousness as
a reed bends before a storm
David Garrick" by Mr.. Rice was
as interesting as a full stage produc-
llOu. me duulehSS was Nio9S'y ~
touch with every scene and situation.
It applauded the young man again
and again.
1t was great entertainment.
Surely Mr. Rice has but few equals
as an impersohator and reader.
Home people are not prejudiced in Il
his favor, for strangers and audien-
ces in distant states and cities grow
just as enthusiastic over him as do
Grand Junction audiences.