The Washington times., 1902-04-02
LITTLE PILGRINS"
At THE LAFAYETTE
Stock Company Gives YER
sion of "The Truth TelIers.
DRAMATIZATl0N is WEAK
As Production, and Nothing Else, Mr..
Bellows Work Is to Be Commended
Hit of the Performance Scored by the
Managers Five Year-Old Son.

Monday night the local theatre going
public was given the opportunity to pass
judgment on a play which, though not
entirely new, had never been produced IN
til the management of the Lafayette con-
cluded to present it through the medium
of the stock company The piece in its
original form was called 1.-The Truth Tel
lers,'' and was a dramatization of John
Strange Winters novel of the same name
by Martha and Michael Morton. For its
presentation at the Lafayette Walter
Clarke Bellows revised the piece, under
the title of The Little Pilgrims, and
as the programme gives credit for the
play to no one, it is to be supposed that
all concerned must be accorded & share
in the production.
The story in the main concerns five
children, who, on the death of their
father, leave their home at Truland Cas-
tie and go to London to make their future
home with their maiden aunt, who moves
in social set whose utter disregard for
the truth proves a severe blow to the
children. whose creed has always been TO
tell the truth at any and all times, no
matter what the consequences. The ten
dency to be outspoken moves the little
ones to say some very amusing things and
so to furnish many bright moments Dur
ing the story.
Murrough Connor. an Irishman, is be-
ing hunte das conspirator against the
good and peace of the country, and ignor-
ant of this fact he comes to Miss Macdon-
aid, the aunt's, for the purpose of seeing
the children, principally Faith, the eldest
whom he had known in their old home
Faith warns him that his life is in danger
and ne escapes through a clever ruse ex-
ecuted by Faith. The villain of the story
Lord Cadyille, plans to marry Faith for
her money. and makes his object known
to her. She declares that II he again
speaks ofthe matter she will strike him in
the face, which she does in subsequent
act before a room full of her aunts
guests. after CadvilIe had announced their
engagement. When the visitors have left
and Faith and Cadville are alone a scene
ensues in which he attempts to kiss her,
but Connor bursts through the glass doors
in time to rescue her. Everything, how
ever, is Strengthened out to the satisfac
tion of the audience in the end.
From scenic standpoint the play
proved interesting, many mechanical
devices being introduced by way of pleas
ing the eye. Part of the second act was
taken up with one of the best reproduc-
tions of a storm ever seen on a local
stage. With the exception OF the imita-
tion of the preliminary thunder. which
left the audience in doubt for some time
as to whether IL was not some one exer-
cising on roller skates on the stage. every
element OF the storm was very realistic,
even TO tree being struck by lightning.
The wind howled, the lightning flashed.
clouds coursed over the somewhat frac-
tious moon, leaves blew around the stage.
in truly chaotic fashion, and all things
tended TO make the storm quite real.
Another pleasing feature of the play
was the entrance Of the children in the
first act They passed by the window
mounted on ponies, and preceded by the
piper. faithful Sandy. playing a charac-
terlstic Scotch air on the pipes: They
looked very picturesque. arrayed in their
kits. and lent much snap and spirit to
the act by their odd and child like OBJ
servations.
Looked at from q constructive stand
point, the play is about as bad speci-
men as has ever been put up before any
local audience. The story is disjointed. and
lacks almost every element of success.
In the first act Murrough Conner is
brought on, and the audience is informed
that he is being sought by the authorities
as conspirator. Faith gets him away,
while 4 monkey, belonging to an organ
grinder, whom the children have brought
in. claims the attention of everybody as
he pulls an old ladys wig OF The play
proceeds, but the story stops. The chill
dren come on and captivatc the audience
by their delightfully."- natural acting. and
quaint sayings, and after they have
amused for a time, and leave the stage,
one suddenly pulls ones self together and
asks what il is all about. In this way the
thread of the story is lost time and time
again. and it is no little exertion on the
part of the audience to recall just what
has gone before.
The third act. showing the hall at Oak
dale and a lawn fete, is a veritable fas-
co. and is absolutely unnecessary to the |
play 1t could be eliminated entirely
without detriment to anything or any
body. In fact. the whole play needs the |
knife in the worst way. 1t is en- |
tirely too long. The incidents are dis
the theme vague. and the lack |
of action is apparent from the second |
act to the end If the management would |
the monkey the dog. and the |
storm, and allow the audience to get home |
by 1890 or II o'clock. "The Little Pill |
srims" might be counted success.
The actor who figures most conspcu- |
ously in the production is Walter c. Bel !
lows, jr. The little fellow read his lines /
and plays his par With all the self-con-
sciousness of a veteran and he completely |
wins the hearts of the audience by his |