Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1915-10-20
A Synopsis g We Play Given Here
is INTEREST,". Full of Action
in all Srtments.
WILL APPEAR AT
GRAND ! IT WEEK
"A Crowded House Will Greet This
Great Play, And it is Well to
Get Your Seats Reserved
Now.

Fiske O'Hara in a new play
Kilkenny" by Augustus Pitou
Sr., will be the attraction at the
Grand, Thursday Oct. 2Sth. The
story of Mr.. OHara's new play is
woven around characters and Incl.
dents that existed in Kilkenny in
1910. The action of the play tran.
spires within twenty-four hours,
The first act is laid in Richard Des-
mond's studio, in the morning. The
second act is glen scene, during
the afternoon of the same day, and
the third act in the studio, early the
following morning, after a grand
ball that was given at the house of
David Conway. Mr.. Conway is the
guardian of Moina Carroll, and was
formerly her fathers partner in the
coal mines at Castlecomer. Moina
was educated at convent in France,
from which country she returned to
live at the home of her guardian in
Kilkenny, only year before the ac-
tion of the play begins. Conway, a
man of fifty-five, had married, a few
years before, young woman of
twenty eight, whom he had met in
London, when she was a bar-maid.
Conway is anxious to marry his
ward to Maurice Levine, man of
wealth but profligate. Conway has
become involved, through specula-
tion, in the Mexican Gold Mine Com
pany When that bubble, one of the
many cf that age, bursts, he is fac
ing ruin. He has deceived his ward
as to her true age to delay making
an accounting CT the fortune left
her by her father. A close friend
ship and sincere affection exists be-
tween Moina and the young Mrs.
! Conway. The latter had had an ex-
perience with Maurice Levine in
the past, and knows that he is un-
worthy to marry pure, sweet girl
like Molina. From 1903 to 1919
there existed in Kilkenny company
of amateurs, composed of ladies and
gentlemen Of the city, who gave per-
formances for charity two weeks
each year, in October, during what
was then known as the Kilkenny
Carnival" Richard Desmond was
the leading man, and Moina Car
roll the leading lady of this company
They played many love scenes to-
gether, and naturally fell in love
with each other. Mrs. Conway fav-
ors the young lovers, but when Mr..
Conway discovers their attachment
he is furious. At the suggestion OF
Maurice Levine he forbids Moina to
appear at the theatre the following
night, when the last performance OF
the season is to be given. He as
serts that Moina must obey him, as
she is not of age, and that he still
is her guardian. Richard who rode
to Castlecomer that morning, finds
the record of Moinas christening in
the chapel there, and discovers that
Moina is a few months over twenty
one, and her own mistress. Maurice
Levine suspecting that Conway lost
part of his wards fortune in specu-
lation, tells him that he will aid him
financially, and proposes to him
that they abduct Moina that night
during the ball. carry her off to the
convent in France and put stop to
the growing attachment between her
and Richard. Mrs. Conway sees her
husband take Moina into the garden,
while the guests are dancing. She
follows them, and sees Maurice Le-
vine throw his cloak over Moina's
head, force her into a coach, and
drive off. Mrs. Conway gives the
alarm, Richard and his friends hur-
riedly mount horses, overtake the
coach, and rescue Moina. In the last
act Richard tells Conway that he will
marry Moina, without his consent,
that he knows she Is Of age, and that
he will demand of him an accounting
of his guardianship. Confronted with
the proofs Conway breaks down,
and influenced by his wife he con-
fesses all, and begs for mercy. Rich
ard compels Maurice Levine to apollo
gize to Moina and leave Kilkenny
In the play is the character of Muir
ply Kale, an old blind piper, who
before he lost his sight was master