The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-04-04
NATHAN HALE IS. PLEASING
Production Cndcr Direction of Sock
and Buskin Society Was
Distinct Success.

In. presenting: Nathan HALE"
Clyde Fitch's great drama Of Revolu-
tionary war times. the Sock and
Buskin society OF the university last
night scored the third great success
in its history. AS an amateur pro-
duction, it is only rivaled by the two
former plays given by the society,
and. inasmuch as it is an entirely
different play than either of. the
other two, it is difficult to make a
comparison. But judging from the
standpoint Of popularity in plays.
last nights. production was by tar
the best amateur performance ever
seen in the city.
Like all Clyde Fitch plays. "Nath-
an Hale" has it's great moments Of
f! dramatic situations. and the fact that
the members Of the Sock and Buskin
society were able to get them over"
even though handicapped by several
ragged scenes. is pleasing testimony
Of the fact that there is consider
able h%istronic ability Of the best
kind at the university.
A pleasing feature Of last nights
play was the fact that there were two
especially hne pantomime scenes
hardest kind Of acting. proved the
most gripping scenes in the entire
play. The best Of these scenes was
the one in which, Alice Knowlton.
played by Anne MacIlraith, visited
the prison tent Of her lover, Nathan
Hale. played by William Bacon. just
q few hours before he was to be
hanged. Not a line was spoken until
the very last Of the scene, vet
throughout the attention Of the audi
ence was 20 rapt that a pin fall
could have been heard.
The last scene was the most i'm
pressive Of the entire plav. As the
curtain went up. the chirp Of birds
could be heard announcing the dawn.
and then. just after the rising sun
had made the hangman's noos vis-
ible. came the ound Of a drum beat
and the tread Of marching soldiers.
Nathan Hale stepped out. said his
last words and calmly walked to the
gallows. lust two lines were spoken
during this scene, and vet. through
the acting of those taking part, it was
made Just az effective as the panto-
mime scene that preceded.
Nathan: Hale, OF course. al the
central figure and William Bacon
played the part with just the right
amount of vigor, dash and simpili-
city. Miss MacIlraith, who played
opposite him. gave a pleasing inter-
probation Of the part Of Alice.
Miss Gertrude Cunningham, play.
ing Angelica Knowlton and Garth
Rowland. playing Ebenezer Lebanon
her lover. furnished the rea comedy
of the play. and scored a big hit in
the second act. :.
Terrence Quirke had the unpleas-
ant part Of the villain" but visual
lied the character in an admirable
manner. James Kennedy furnished
a fine piece. Of character work In his
characterization Of General Know.
ton, while Stanley Kneeshaw rave 4
fine Interpretation Of Captain Adams,
Ahees father. Mr.. Kouchy. as the
drunken Cunningham. scored one Of
the hits Of the play in his work in
the third act. Harry South contrib
uted q hne piece Of acting. in his
work - Jasper, the ,colored servant
and added considerably to the com
edy Of the play.
Miss oenevieve Meaeham. az Mis-.
tress Knowlton. and Miss Annab4lle
Batten. as tho Widow Chichester, de-.
serve. mention for their characteriz-
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