The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-17
Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm
"The Country Boy
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lne SOuHlIy DOy Edgar Selwyn's intimate Knowledge of the after sundown life of New York city, especially along "The Great White Way" his keen insight into human nature, his familiarity with the dozens of different types of Broadway hab- itues and his sane outlook on life, have enabled him to write a play that appeals to almost every element of human society It is a play which sets Dne's thoughts in motion as that mem ory stirs up and unlocks the door to reflection.
 The title of the play is "The Country Boy but it deals principally with city life and people, giving the experiences of a youth from the country and show ing what the average young man or woman is up against when they start out to forge a path along the way to fortune among the treacherous under currents of metropolitan life.
 The characters represented are near ly all identical with the seething ev- cry day life of the city and there is always the feeling that one has either lived or seen the story in real life. There is no bonbastic attempt to point moral, no straining after effect. The story moves with compelling force through a series of incidents, corre- lated and consecutive, knitted together into a pungent life history that is
 
 treme
 Tom Wilson leaves home to go to New York city where he intends to earn the fortune which will make him independent of the million of the faith CT of the girl he loves. He is very proud and very sure of himself and his talents being blessed with. the usual amount of youthful enthusiasm and egotisnl. It is just possible that he might have done all or some of the things of which he dreamed mad he not met Amy Leroy, a city girl who soon had him completely in tow, caus- ing him to forget his ambition and to neglect his opportunities. It doesn't last long for Tom hasn't very much money and Amy Leroy has no use for moneyless man. But 1t lasts long enough for him to lose all his busi- ness chances and to become so hope less and Respondent over his misfor- tune as to look upon self destruction with condoning eyes. But there, the play Is really too good to spoil by tell ing too much in advance.
 It comes to the Jefferson next Fri day and Saturday and Saturday mat tnee.
 "Rebecca of Sunybr0Ok Farm
 Refreshing as the breeze that plays over Maine meadow in June, and waits the perfume to the passerby, is the story told in Kate Douglas Wiggin's "Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm" which will be seen at the Jefferson December 25-26 with mat inee Tuesday. And withal there is a seriousness of purpose and an engendercd thoughtfulness about the comedy that strikes their lessons deep into the hearts of those that see the play, which is one of the most successful Klaw x Erlanger have ever presented under the aegis of their firm name. Rebecca, the delightful heroine of Mrs. Wiggins book, "Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm" and New Chron- icles of Rebecca,'' is brought to life and set before the public with all of her charm and wistfiil tenderness, her strug- ges, her sorrows and her triumphs.
 The author has contriVed to veer away from the usual order of New England dramas In "Rebecca of SunnybrOolS Farm" and instead of the gloom and misery which are generally there she has .siven us an s.bounding cheerfulness q story that touches the heart and charac- ters that grip thesimagination.
 Rebecca presents herself as a golden hearted, merry faced girl. trembling on tho threshold of womanhood. filled with the wonder of life and it's possibilities. oyerflowing with the joy of mere exist ence. Her pranks,Aher frolics her trials, Nare those that come into the life of every girl and their reality gives the play It's value. it's tremendous force and It's draw.