TOM MOORE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4878, 16 September 1925, Page 2

TOM MOORE.

PRESENTED BY DENIS KFHOE. DRAMATIC COMPANY AT PAEROA. There was only .a fair attendance at the return showing of Denis Kehoe’s dramatic company- at the Gaiety Theatre, Paeroa, on Monday evening. Although “Tom Moore was accorded a good reception, the consensus of opinion is that it did not quite reach the high standard set by the company in June last when it presented “Mother Machree.” In all probability this was due to the. limited staging facilities, for the acting , upon the whole was of a decidedly high standard. The story itself wound around the life story of Tom Moore, Ireland’s greate&t poet, and the plot unwound in a natural - and engrossing manner. The story opened in a small Irish village, the birthplace of Tom Moore (Denis Kehoe). The hero, then an unknown village poet, is deeply in love with pretty Bessie Dyke (Frances Kayher), the village schoolmistress. Her innocent beauty, however, has aroused the dangerous admiration of sir Percival Lovelace (Ronald Riley), who with the connivance of his satellite, Terence Farrell (Bernard Beeby) plots to secure the favour of the schoolmistress. Having succeeded in causing an estrangement Sir Percival induces Bessie and her father to return with him to London. where he secures for Bessie an engagement in a Drury Lane theatre. Bessie has become famous as an actress, and a reigning toast, but meanwhile Tom Moore is eking out a miserable existence in a London garret. He submits his pbems to publisher after publisher, only, to meet rejection and rebuff, until at length the good offices of Richard Brinsley Sheridan (Lester Carey) secure him the patronage of the Prince of Wales. His success is thus assured and his rise to fame meteoric. He becomes the friend and confidant bf the Prince and the lion of society. The unscrupulous Lovelace has meanwhile inveigled Bessie’s pompous, gullible father into his clutches and threatens his ruin and disgrace unless Bessie accedes to his vile demands. Tom, hearing of the plot, succeeds in frustrating it at the cost of his fame and popularity. His downfall, however, is the means bf reconciling him to his sweetheart, and Sheridan at length contrives, a means whereby Moore is enabled to vindicate himself in the Prince’s sight and is restored to fame and favour. • In the title role Denis Kehoe is natural and convincing, and is ably supported. by Frances Kayher, who lends a strong personality to the role of Bessie Dyke. Ronald Riley ful- ? filled the high reputation he earned in “Mother Machree,” and portrayed admirably the character of the titled . rake whose execrable crimes forth* nately come to nought. In the supporting roles Lester Carey as Sheridan, Bernard Beeby as Terence Farrel Tom Buckley as Robin Dyke, and Maurice Lynch as Buster were all, without exception, excellent. Helen Fergus’ impersonation of Mrs Malone, Tom Moore’s Irish landlady, was strikingly good. J. Vincent White as the Prince was perfect. The costuming was particularly fine and gorgeous, altnough a change of apparel for Terence Farrel for evening wear might have been more ap-, propriate. T/he settings were splendid. considering the difficulties of the limited stage accommodation. Denis Kehoe’s rendering of such Irish melodies ap ‘(Flower of My Heart,” “Evelyn’s Bower,” “ Love’s Young Dream,” and “My Home in Ireland” were in splendid taste, .but: many were disappointed that was not used tb accompany tnem. /The company is .to return in a few months’ time and will present “Molly Bawn.”