The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-11-05

peTnolT opERA HOUSE.

DETROIT OPERA HOUSE.
There IL q pervading smell OF pow
dei In The Littlest Rebel by Ed
ward Peples, which opened In the De
troit opera house. Monday evening.
with William Farnum in the leading
part The action is laid In Virginia,
near Richmond. during the last DAYS
OF the confederacy as the union lines
gradually close in on the southern
forces. 1890. -
Il Is a war play, and the horrors OF
war are depicted with thrilling real
ism. was as Il Affects the women and
children who have TO live in the
midst OF the struggle. and was as u
affects the soldiers In the thick oil
battle.
The battle scene In the third act
is one OF the most complete stage
pictures OF fighting that has been pre-.
serted. There is, first, the rumble oil
volley-firing in the distance, then bul-
lets begin To whistle closer. the dust
is fiecked from a rock by the road
SIDE, leaves and branches are cut
from the trees, then the hand-to-hand
conflict between the yelling rebels
and the retreating federals with men
falling on both sides. acts OF heroism
and logged bravery until the curtain
falls.
The story of The Littlest Rebel"
Is bit of the regular line OF war
stories. The heroine is Virgie, the
little daughter OF Capt. Cary, con-
federate officer who is on dangerous
scout duty. His house has been de
stroyed BY Union soldier, who bore
him a grndge, his wife has succumb-
ed TO the hardships. and the little girl
Is left alone In the oyerseer's cabin
with little TO eat. replying on her
fathers success in penetrating the
Union lines for her scanty supplies.
On one of these visits he is tracked
BIZ a troop OF Yankees, but the little
girl is stanch and by telling a
"whopper." manages 10 throw the
Yankees on the track. Col. Morrison.
commanding them. stays behind and
there is a charming little scene be.
tween the brave little rebel and the
officer. Morrison discovers Cary's
hiding place. but resolves TO protect
him for the sake OF the child. He
dismisses his men and writes out a
pass for Virgie and escort" but
when the little girl and her father
reach the Union lines they are inter
cepted by the revengeful brother of
the man who was shot down by Nor
rison for burning the Cary home. Both
tne officers are brought before Gen
eral Grant, Morrison as a traitor and
Cary as spy, but they are both
pardoned on the story OF Virgie.
Mr.. Farnum takes the part of Lieut.
Col Morrison, and has the physique
and presence to do II we'll. He does
not overdo the melodramatic situa-
lions in the drama. acting with re-
straint and strength Jack Sharkey
as Capt Herbert Cary is inclined to
make the most or the sonfe~tf
stacy declarations given him.
The most important parsonage in
the cast Is Boots Woorster as Virgie,
the little rebel girl. This little child
actress has remarkable ability and
carries through her part. which is the
strongest In the play, with quite as
much skill as any OF the grown-ups.
Others in the cast are Sam j. Bur
ton as the inevitable faithful old
Negro servant, who furnishes a touch
OF comedy here and there: Frances
Newhall as Mrs. Cary and Jack
Ravold. who gives an interesting In
OF Gen. Grant. Offlcers
and troopers, make up the rest OF the
cast filling in the roles adequately.
THE Littlest Rebel might be i'm
proved upon by little condensation.
The first act being bit irrelevant and
very talky. The wealth OF action III
the other three, however. compen-
safes somewhat. There is also
tendency toward the melodrama which
crops out almost ludicrously in spots.
One OF the noteworthy features is the
entire absence of a loye-theme, the
action being sustained without the
glamor OF romantic interest
The Littlest Rebel will play in
the Detroit opera house all week with
the usual matinees, Wednesday and
Saturday.