The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1907-10-18

although 50 mucn OF us lechhlchl con-
stuuetion is Mr., Belasco's that his name
now comes first in the list OF authors.
The scene is laid in Indiana in the early
SOS, time chosen obviously for the pur'
nose Of making possible the leading juyen-
lie character, aud the story is chapter
from the life of Wes' Bigelow, Civil war
veteran, commander of the local q. A, X.
post aud man whose sturdy qualities
have won him an important place IN the
community. Bigelows adopted son, Rob
ert, is the son oi an old cOmfade who
died ON the field OF battle soon after the
child was born. Bgelow loved the boys
mother and SO when she dies soon after
her husbands death he takes the lad and
rears him with the assistance of his
faithful housekeeper, Letitia. Spoiled
by too much admiration aud affection the
boy grows up shallow, headstrong
youth dissatisfied with his position, tickle
in his purposes but withal marvel IN
the eyes of his devoted fosterfather. En-,
trusted with carrying TO the bank sl,oOOi1
which has been raised toward clearing
from debt the new hall of the Grand Ar.
my post Robert meets with sharper
and is led TO invest the money in
bucket shop, expecting foolishly that the
return will be threeiold. The dedication
exercises Of the hall are about TO take
place when Judge Andrews, a rich but
ruthless official who has agreed TO pay
the balance of the debt for the sake OF
diminishing ii possible the odium which
surrounds his name, becomes suspicious
through the pleading of his daughter, Hal
lie, who is in love with Robert knows OF
his trouble aud wishes TO use her own
money 10 make up the lost funds, Aided
by Let Pettingill, treasurer OF the post,
the Judge investigates the matter and
confronts Wes' Bigelow with the charge
against his son. Bigelow refuses to be-
licve and calls the boy 10 disproye the
charge but the lads silence is confession.
Cut to the heart by such iilial treachery
Bgelow flashes with wrath and lifts a
whip to strike, but after the lash falls
once his love for the boy and his dead
mother triumphs,
Then comes the day Of the trial, with
the grand jury in session. Bigelow en-
ters, nervous from the strain OF raising
money enough TO make up the shortage
but triumphant in the thought that the
lad will be given another chance. He
learns, however, that Pettingill, who
agreed not to press the charge provided
the money was forthcoming, has changed
his mind after consultation with the rep
resentatiye of the district attorney and
Is even then in the grand jury room.
Tho Jury appears and returns an lndct-
mcnt against Robert and the case is i'm
mediately brought to trial. The lawyer
for the prosecution urges stern justice.
IVES Bigelow in defiance OF court rules
makes a heartfelt appeal for the lad but
without success He is sentenced to a
year in the penitentiary. The final scene
takes place at the home of Yves six
mcnths later. 1t is New Years day and
the veteran and his faithful housekeeper
make pitiful effort to partake OF their
holiday dinner with some show of cheer
iulness. The talk, however, soon reyerts
TO the one topic of interest, Roberts wei.
fare. During the conversation, Halle, the
Judges daughter brings in a letter which
she has received from the prisoner. As
Is the case with most successful plays the
ending is happy one, for Robert is par
doned and appears at home during Hal
lies visit, sobered by his fearful punish
mcnt and determined to bring JOY to his
fathers life again.
Ii would be difficult in
faet-to say Just where Mr.. Warfield ex-
celled He lived the part of Wes' Bige-
low, making the audience share his pride
in the boy for whom he had such great
hopes and partake OF the grief which ac-
companied the blow TO those hopes. He
was especially good when at the dedica-
ton exercises he told blind Comrade Hick-
man the story of the boys fathers
death and proudly predicted a great fu-
ture for the young man even then de-
iaulter Again at the close of the second
act where love cooled Bgelows anger Mr..
Warield had a strikingly effective pas
sage, and throughout 1.-The trial scene
which ended in the passionate remon-
STRANGE against the injustice of the YER
diet his work was splendidly done. Time
and again his audience was moved to
tears and then to laughter by the quick
shifts from pathos to humor, this being
particularly noticeable in the final act
when Wes' Bigelow pathetically read
aloud the boyish letter from the son to
his sweetheart,
To say that Mr.. Warfeld was well sup
ported is stating something that is taken
for granted in all Belasco productions.
The large company which surrounded
him was able in every respect William
Elliot as the son played an extremely diff
ficult role ereditably. The fact that he
had comparatively little to say made his
task all the harder but he accomplished it
with no little success. Halle, the judges
daughter, was extremely well played ny
Miss Antoinette Perry, while Miss Marie
Bates was capital as Letitia, the dear old
housekeeper. Let Pettingill, the weak
and petulant "comrade, was ably i'm
personated by Stephen Maley while Reu-
ben Fax George Woodward and James
Lackaye were excellent as other post
members The remainder of the minor
characters were portrayed with a skill
which showed the careful guidance of Mr..
Bclasco himself. even the real old veter-
ans and the children, who had only to
look their parts, being well drilled. The
stage decorations were excellent, but un.
fortunately only very small portion of
the scenery could be reduced to fit the
local stage and the effect of the second