The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1907-10-09
STAGE STAR
IN NEW PLAY
David WarIleld Delights a
Barre Audience
in "A GRAND ARMY MAN
Piece Affords an Excellent Vehicle for
the Talents Of This Popular
American AetoT-Was
Wen Received.

u was an evening long 70 Be Femcm.
bercl Ia the annals of the local opera
house. when Barre theatre lovers last
night had 4 chance 10 see David War.
asld. one Of Americas grcaiesi actors,
In one of Belaseos greatest plays, and
that before Il has appeared IN the larger
cities. Warhcld rs IN 4 short time from
comparative dramatic obscurity, Is an
actor who above all others on the stage
today merits the mantle Of Joseph Def.
/ ferson. iic has that rare Gift OF bring
/ ing home 20 men che glory OF homcly
virtues, the glory Of a great hearted
ness and that devotion 20 the ones be-
loves which il child.like IN Is simplicity,
but 70 strong that Il is almost nm.
ehaueable.
Such IN the character Of Wes' Bige.
low. a. portrayed BY Wardeld in Belas.
COS new play, "A Grand Army Man.
Although the attendance was not what
Il should have been considering the clasa
of play and The actor which headed the
T NAtHHH NAAF n NINAHHt va = ANAHNAf " ~ "a
fields ability and he was obliged 20 ro.
spond 20 numerous recalls.
The piece is BY long odds the most
carefully constructed Of at Of Belascos
works, pathetic in plnces and humorous
N others, with a clean, genuine humor
which marks all Of che Belasco produc.
tions Il gives Air Warfield those OPP
portuuities for character acting Of which
he 4 particularly the master.
The company surrounding the star is
Of the highest order. slr. Elliott, Mr..
Hall. Mr. Maley and Mr. Laekaye were
particularly good IN the support, and OF
Miss Bates and Miss Perry Il Is but
necessary to place their work on a par
with previous acknowledgment OF their
art The ensemble Of minor characters.
Particularly In the 6. A. Il. hall IS splen
did and throughout the play Is replete
with the Bella acoau touches Of realistic
detail, which are TO be expected.
The story Of the play eeniers about
the devotion Of Wes' Bieelow 10 the
child Of his old comrade and Of Mary
Blinded BY his love for the young man,
caliow youth with head full of mil.
lion dollar inventions" Wes' can think
no evil 81 hiIu aud trusts him implicitly,
until the boy given 81 .000.lG 81 the g.
A. x. posts money to deposit is lead
astfay By a sharper who promises him
$1,000 IN return for the investment of
the 81 00046 in stocks. IN his desire 20
get rich quickly and thus be aided
toward securing the young lady Of his
choice. the lad surreuders the money 10
the sharper and loses it, ey6n to the
20 cents
The confession by the youth Of his
folly and the dawnine of the fact on Wes'
Bigelow. followed by the threat to pun
ish the hoy until his strength is gonen
and the failure to carry ont the threat |
after inficting one blow is a particu |
Iarly strong scene. in which Warfeld /
displayed his tremendous power to work |
upon human feelings
Next comes the dramatic trial Of /
young Bob and his sentence 20 prison, |
but the cloud has a silver lining. Bob |
Is released on account Of good behavior /
after serving only part Of his sentence I
New Years eve finds the boy released I
and back again with those he loves. not /
the least figure among them is Halle /
Andrews The reading by Wes' Bigelow I
of a touching letter from Bob to the I
girl forms a fine prelude TO the reunion \
and gives Wariield a chance TO exercise
his greatest talents, whether by voice,
facial expression or gesture. 1t was one
of the finest parts Of the great play, +
which is destined to have a prominent
place in the theatrical attractions of the
year
Local theatre goers can well congratu-
late themselves on The opportunity af 4
forded BY the management Of the Barre
opera house. for instead Of being COM
PEELED To wait until after the piece has
been worn threadbare -if that term may
be used in connection with "a Grand
Army Man in New York, they have
had the chance to see the production at
the very outset, and that with the great
actor for whom the play was designed
in the leading role.
The cast OF characters was as fol.
lows:
Wes' Bigelow y. Mr., David Warfeld
Judge Andrews 4. Mr.. Howard Hall
Jim Bishop Mr.. George Woodward 1
Cory Hilbert - Mr.. stephen Maley
Let pettingill and Comrades Potter
ana Iate..t.t. ,4.,5. ,.-,t,.s....
Alessrs. Tony Bevan and Thos. Gilbert
9omrade Tate Mr.. William Boag
Robert, Yves Bigelow's adopted son
4....... Mr. William Elliott
Rogers Welman . Mr.. Taylor Holmes
Hickman, Of the Soldiers Home
Mr. John Daley ,
The Drummer Boy of the Rappahan
mock ... Mr. John Norris i
Halle. the judges daughter ..t.
....... Miss Antoinette Perry !
Ietitia, Wes' Bigelow's houseleeper,
s........ Miss Marie Bates !
Mrs. Bestor ... Miss Amy Stone
Aida Yestor Miss Veda McEvers
Nrs. pettingill - Miss Jane Cowl
Mrs. Hilbert Miss Louise Coleman !
Then there was large number Of
minor characters. many of whom are
cal veterans 81 the Civil War; also
,evv oF nearly dozen children whose
.peparance on the stage serves TO make {
he piece more complete as they troop / i
long after the marching veterans. +
M Belaseo. the author OF the piece 9
nd one Of the most prominent theatrical
nen Of the period. IS with the compans
n this trip. polishing OF the parts Of z
ne production So ais to suit the critical
SeW York audience. The Oiil Of the :
solden West" which has been seen here