River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1923-04-05
THE "KINNICK" PLAY


en- played to crowded house in the
Normal Auditorium Friday evening.
March "a. Inasmuch as the proceeds
of the play were for the benefit of the
"Kinnick," the High School Annual,
the presence of the large audience
aided this school publication as well
as the work of the actors.
The play itself is a comedy of the
first rank. The story centers around
an aristocratic Virginian family, the
Daingerfelds. Being pressed for mon
ey, the children, whose parents are
III Europe, plan to rent their home to
a wealthy Northern bachelor, Burton
Crane. One of. the conditions of the
lease is that a competent staff Of
white servants shall be engaged. AS
the Northerner has no use for Negro
servitors, one of the children, conceiv-
es the idea that she, her sister, and
her two brothers shall act as the do
mestic staff for the rich Yankee. Of
course this results in series of
amusing complications. The DAM
gerfields are in constant danger of
having their scheme brought to light;
Crane and his lawyer friend, Tucker,
as well as Weeks, the real-estate
agent, were smitten with the charms
of the cook, Olivia, alias Jane Ellen,
who cleverly evades them all. Thomas
Lefferts is in love with Cora Fa'kener,
a guest, but distinctly not in love with
her meddlescme mother, who in re-
turn has nothing good to say of Tho
mas. Finally the tangle smooths it
self out to the entire satisfaction of
everyone except Mrs. Falkener and
her brother Tucker.
Martha Richardson as Olivia was a
charming and witty Irish cook. Her
strong personality made its way ac-
ross the foot-lights so well that she
completely captivated her audience.
Lawrence Dawson, as the rich Bur-
ton Crane, played up excellently to
Miss Richardson's strong lead, carry
ing a difficult part with composure
and dignity. The character Of Mrs.
Falkener as taken by Nina Colwell,
was exceptionally well played. The
scene in which she held the center Of
interest was one of the high lights
of the entire play Helen Sutherland
portrayed petulant spoiled daughter
of the South with exactness; Warren
Richardson made the part of the
thoughtful brother unusually good by
his perfectly natural and unaffected
acting. Arthur Webster deserves es-
pecial mention for the mirth provok-
ing manner in which he played the
part of the typical grouchy, conceit-
ed boy in his teenst-while Lawrence
Churchill was a true Statistical
poet" James Richardson most accep-
tably played the difficult role of the
crafty but susceptible aged lawyer
who was cartivated against his eau
ton by the lovely Jane Ellen, and Ly'
man Martin made a fine real estate
agent whose conscience kept him in a
state of perpetual nervousness. Ber-
nice Sheldrew acted perfectly her part
as the sweet unaffected daughter OF
tyranical mother-while Lillian
Golden pleased the audience by her
portrayal of the southern nanny
1t was the first play in which any OF
these people had taken part and the
success of the production they staged
is a great credit to them.
Roy Stock made the kitchen furni-
tire, thereby showing his manual
training was truly practical.
The advertising and business end
of the proposition was handled by
Merrill Oakley, whose efficiency in this
line made the play a financial sue
cess.
About two hundred dollars was
cleared by the production.