“MOTHER MACHREE.”

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4847, 1 July 1925, Page 2

“MOTHER MACHREE.”

THE DENIS KEHOE CO.

DELIGHTFUL IRISH FOLK DRAMA. it was very unfortunate that the weather locally was so boisterous and wet, otherwise the Gaiety Theatre would undoubtedly have been packed. As it was, the house was well filled, and thoise who braved the elements and attended Denis Kehoe’s presentation of “Mother Machree” last night were adequately rewarded. The play is an Irish folk drama, and the three acts were creditably staged and the play presented on the same elaborate scale as it was at His Majesty’s Theatre, Auckland. The plot centred round the love of Mother Machree for her sons, and touched a note of deepest pathos, yet was sparkling with passages of wit .and humour irresistible and provocative of much hilarity.. Mr Denis Kehoe as Dan O’Connor imbues, his role with a typical Irish personality, and portrays the Celtic character to perfection. His rendering of Irish melodies, to the accompaniment of his harp, was much appreciated, and he received rounds of applauise. As Rose O'Dare, the winsome English lassie, Miss Frances Kayhcr is am actress of charm and distinction, and carried her part through with credit. In the supporting roles Miss Helen Fergus as Mother Machree was splendid, and she portrayed her difficult part as a broken-hearted mother with lifelike accuracy and success. Ronald Riley as Harold O’Darc was magnificent, his part of the English dandy who stuttered being decidedly clever. Miss Gwen Doricc as Moira, Aileen Dunne as the voidable Mrs O’Malley, Lester Carey as Fergus Stone (the villain of the drama), and Tom Buckley as Father Pat fitted into their parts, perfectly, as, indeed, did all. the supporting cast.

Mr Kehoe, Who, by the way, is as charming a character off the stage a<s lie is on: expressed himself as delighted with liis reception in Paeroa, and said that he regarded the audience last night as one of the most appreciative and responsive it had been his pleasure to act before.