New-York tribune., 1911-11-15
THE DRAMA
Edward PepIe'S Play, "The Lit
tIeSt Rebel" at Liberty Theatre.

The persons who last night waded
through the slush and garbage which deco
rate the streets OF this seat of civilization,
and who entered and filled the Liberty
Theatre. were rewarded with happy
weepful evening. They saw a play packed
with grief and gunpowder and saturated
with sentiment. They absorbed a vast en-
joyment The louder and faster the shoot
ing. the grimmer the bleeding bodies, the
more rapturous the ecstasy OF the spec
tators. u was like tour In the Chamber
Of Horrors with a look in upon "Editha's
Burglar" and a glimpse at a Southern Re-
becca at a Virginian Sunnybrook Farm.
You could voyage quite comfortably amid
perils and weep contentedly as you went,
and stir your heart with the most proper
emotions. and cheer. and feel quite patrl-
otic What more could a playgoer ask for
his money?
Mr.. Edward Peple's play Is of the Civil
War. But there is no brave and hated
Northern lover and defiant. lovely South
ern lass. A Confederate officer is captured
by Union colonel The captives child
pretty girl Of ten, softens the heart of the
captor. and after much sorrowful adventure
she is left. homeless and orphaned TO the
care OF the Northern colonel. This is the
story in little. and faxen haired Virgie is
the littest rebel The play is smplicity's
self. Snd the end can he seen from the be-
ginning as old-fashioned folk say play
ends should be seen. II caught the house
last night and was accompanied by all the
fitting noises OF success. Mr.. Peple and his
aids know how 70 touch the popular heart
and keep the blood a-boiling. The acting
was OF the kind usual i'm war plays, quiv-
ering along the melancholy and heroic
notes Mr. Dustin Farnum. as the gallant
and dusty Northern officer. has part
which will enchant his adorers Mr. Will
lam Farnum was quite remarkable as
plump and strong voiced starving officer OF
the Confederacy. So potent was his passion
that even his curly locks acted. The child
long and difficult part for a wee thing
was PLAYED by Juliet Shelby, who should
he taught now TO speak. But the audience
did not seem 10 mind any defects I'm that
quarter The play, which is a plain and
unvarnished piece OF work, went bowling
along to success. II touched most Of the
familiar springs of common feeling that
war plays are accustomed TO touch be-
sides two or three more; and the audience
foated to satisfaction on a food of easily
evoked tears. as audiences often do in the
world Of the theatre. or course there was
a speech" or something that passed for
speech. Strange is the JOY that theatre
goers feel when they drag an actor out Of
his part and make him stammer at the
footehts. Perhaps that. too Is worth the
money. Who knows? a. w.
CAST OF THE LITTLEsT REBEL"
Lieutenant Colonel Morrison. United states
Cavalry Observation-Disclosures. Dustin Farnum
The General a. :. A.......... William y. Mack
Forbes. his adjutant. ................ Roy Gordon
Lieutenant Harris. MorriSon's aid Walter Horton
Sergeant Dudley. OF Morrisons command.
T. T. B Henry
Corporal Dudley. his brother. ..... John Sharkey
Harry O'Connell. a trooper. ..... John g Hickey
Sergeant OF the Guard. .......... NJ. \. Kelly
Collins. ....... Charles Lawrence
; SLith......... Troopers 4 ...,...... Fred Kley
Judson. ....... Gee. Franklyn Horton
Color Sergeant. John c. Leslie
Courier. Frederic Norris
Captain Herbert Cary, Confederate scout.
William Famum
Mrs. Herbert Cary. his wife Percy Haswell
Virgie. his child d..................Jul Juliet Shelby
Uncle Billy, a slave. e............ George Ihatcner
Sa'ly Ann, nurse. ........ ...... Mamie Lincoln