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From the GREENVILLE NEWS, Saturday, May 25

DR. JONES, JR., STARS IN PLAY

Dr. Bob Jones, Jr., was outstanding last night as Cyrano, the long-nosed poet who loved in vain.

He played the title role in Edmond Rostand's "Cyrano De Bergerac" presented by the Classic Players of Bob Jones University in Rodeheaver Auditorium before an audience of nearly 3,000.

With excellent stage presence and superb voice, Dr. Jones made the most of the humor and pathos in the 1640 play.

He was especially effective in the final scene, where the secret of his love finally leaked out just before he died.

Beneth Peters was effective as Roxana, who though Cyrano was only a friend.

Bob Jones, III played Christian, who courted Roxane with Cyrano's poetry and who died in battle after marrying her.  He carried the part well for a 17-year-old boy, but he has a lot of trouping to do before he can match his father as an actor.

The six-foot-four inch lad was in the 1950 production at BJU.  He was a kid of 10 then and portrayed one of the pages.

Calvin Schools furnished much of the humor with his portrayal of Ragueneau, the jittery pastry cook.

Cyrano's "nose that marches on before me" was an important part of the play.  He was a great swordsman and readily dueled anyone who so much as mentioned or noticed the nose.

There were a lot of good laughs in the play, most of them as a result of Cyrano's wit and his conceit.  There were some slow spots in the two-hour and 45-minute production.

The very handsome sets were changed with typical BJU speed and efficiency.  The changes before Act 2 and before Act 3 were done with the stage and auditorium in complete darkness.

The cast of 112 was effectively costumed.

The play will be repeated Tuesday at 8 p.m.  I recommend it to anyone interested in 17th century drama or anyone in need of some new and poetic sweet nothings to whisper in his girl friend's shell-pink ear.

GR