New-York tribune., 1909-12-12
STAGE EREBECCANOW
HER FRIENDS MINED.
Mrs. Higgins Play Called
"Homespun Peter Pam"

Rebecca and Uncle Jerry Cobb. Emma
Jane Perkins. "ths rich blacksmith's eaugh-
ter; Alice Robinson. Juvenile pillar of
the church; the Simpson children and
their lucklsss. swapping father. the
maiden aunts. Miranda and Jane Sawyer
all or these and many other inhabitants OF
Rfverhero. Me-. nado their theatre debut
few weeks sEo. They will be seen IN
New York sooner or later. again intro
duced by Mrs. Kate Douglas wisgin, who
now adds 10 her achievements as a novel;
ist those of playwright. Charlotte
Thompson vas the collaberator. who added
her technical knowledge and stase expert
enee to Mrs. Virgins own dramatic IN
stinct and sense Of character. and the as
sociation has been a delightful and friendly
as well as successful one.
We'll. how has II been doEe. and what
vas there 10 dramatize in Rebecca's SIM
pie story? What led Kate Douglas Wig
gin 10 turn. even II only temporarily. frem
book writing 10 Play making? The re-
porter was early on the quest. ana found
Mrs. Wiggin at breakfast, just after her
return 20 New York from Springfield,
Hartford and Portland. where she had
been attending "flrst performances"
oh" said the author land how her ewes
shone as she spoke OF her first stage childD,
you may be sure did not try to make
a sardou drama or problem play out OF
my slight material Miss Thompson and
agreed from the first that the Rehecca
books were to be respected and followed.
In spirit and truth One cannot make an
orchid out OF field daisy"
But surely there is a dramatic back
ground. and some sort OF a Climax
Il sm not sure that there is what the
YftE,
tiopal climax; the audience is not at any
time kept on the qui vive of expectation
and excitement. Nevertheless, the fortunes
OF the merry quintet Of village girls is
eagerly followed from act TO act. The gay
ETY., freshness and spontaneity of the thing
seems 20 carry il along"
And II is these qualities in the play
which hold the interest OF its audiences?'
u suppose so: but il has others, hope.
lf you would be kind enough to read the
reviews you could spare my modesty and
discover many charms in the stage Rehecea
which / certainly shall not claim for my
self. At any rate. the interest in the play
seemed to be very strong N the New
England cities where II has appeared. Even
the little love scene at the end-young,
tender, giVlish, delicate-holds its own
Seemingly persons did not leave the thea
tire five or ten minutes before the play
ended. When Rebecca asks her prince 10
please wait little while just before
the curtain falls on the last act. the audi
ence watched the stage as intensely as II
there were no hats or rubbers or suburban
ears in the world"
Perhaps they are held by the breath CT
the fresh Maine pines that runs through
the play; perhaps it's the stage picture of
the simple everyday life of these New Ing
land folk" said the interviewer; "and the
love interest Of the pIay. what Of thatF'
i have told you how the scene al the end
seems 70 please. As for the rest, there Is
the hobbledehoy love affair OF Emma
Jane Perkins and Abijah Flagg. the boy,
who. born pauper. decides that It's better
TO be born in a poOrhouse than 10 die IN
one. And. as contrast, there is all along
the tender, poetic budding of the love-that-
is-to-be between Rsbecca and her wonder
ful Mr. Aladdin There is more laughter
than love. however. and tear Or two now
and then to keep the balance
where did yeu first get your idea ot
Rebeeea? Was she the reflection of some
child you had known. or 4 blending to-
gether of the natures OF several children
My Rebecca." and there was a world OF
love In her voice, came 10 cheer me with
her quaint logic when ! was recovering
from a long. weary illness, | saw a stage
coach and an eager faced little girl In Il,
poking the driver with her sunshade TO
attract his attention. Yes, l suppose
dreamed it
III you could have had your choice of ali
the famous actresses, whom would YOU
have chosen TO play your ideal RebeecaT'
ar ked the inquisitive one.
thetie Gertrude Elliott. with her wonder
full dark hair and eyes and her finely
arehed brows. to play the absolute Rebecca
OF the books. Miss Elliott loves Rebeec9,
and is continually bewailins the fact that
I did not write the play when she was
little girl. Yes, aud I should like 10 see
Eleanor Robson, as she looked when a very
young girl in the part she has the direct,
innocent crystalline saze-the simplicity,
the eternal youth and the merry heart"
What about tie little sirI who is at pres
ent acting Rsbsccag''
Violet EeminS? She is Just the sweet
est most intelligent little creature In the
world II is delight 10 watch the child
in the part She has coed voice. good sense,
winning. Unaffected personality, and she
really does act with rare charm and good
Judgment. She Is as light on her feet as
fairy, and never for one moment is she
artificial or theatrical. though in appear
snoe she is not at all like the Rebecca of
the book. We couldn't ind any one who
looked like my Rebecea, though 7 did ex-
spect TO come across some beautiful little
Jewess, with the characteristic dark eyes
and hair of the race. However, little Miss
HeminS OveFeomes all difficulties and
charms her hearers from first 10 last"
''Of course. you have had 20 omit frem
the play some OF the Riverboro characters
introduced in your book"
Yes, I'm so sorry. did want TO keep
lack O. Lantern In il, but the Simpson
baby is all-sufiicient in the nursery line.
Thirteen characters are represented
though. Rebeecs and her four little play.
mates form the centre of interest, of
course and ali are beautifully played; :;
stodgy. amusing, faithful Emma Jane Per-
kins, Clara Belle Simpson. through whom
you are given a glimpse into the homely
country tragedy of the Simpson hoisehold;
Alice Robinson and disagreeable Minnie
Smellie." The playwright smiled as she
mentioned the last two II feel / must Of
fer an apology for the many faults of Min
ME Smellie and Alice Robinson. I had TO
show some unpleasant Sides OF child char
actsr. To serve as a ioil for sthe virtues.
Anyway. as | tell the little girls who play
these parts, they know very well that
next TO the bliss Of acting an angel of
goodness is the fun of playing an imp OF
naughiiness. IL Is the betwiNts and be-