The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-02-22
"The Littlest Rebel"

1.-The I.ittlest Rebel Edward Peple's 8
play, which was presented at the Jeffer-
son theatre last night by Dustin Fanum
and capable company, bids fair to rank
as one of the current seasons most not
able offerings. Mr.. Farnum is an actor
whose art carries sincerity and conviction.
He has a rare gift of making whatever
role he essays thoroughly human and
strong in its sympathetic appeal. In ."Tne
Littlest Rebel" he appears as a union Of
ficer during the civil war and the part
affords ample scope for the display of
those qualities as an actor that nave
made Mr.. Farnums stage career so sue
cess full.
Mr.. Peple's play possesses humor and
the charm of childhood contrasted with
a background of strife and bloodshed,
telling a story of chivalry in the breasts
OF contending foes, of herosm and a
broad humanity greater than war. An
officer in the Confederate army, his home
burned his young wife dead and his child
in rags, while he himself is hunted by
federal troops,sis trapped in a cabin by
Lieutenant Colonel Morrison of the United
States cavalry. Colonel Morrison had pre-
viousy protected the Confederate's wife
and child from soldier ruffans and his
acquaintance with the little girl is re-
neved in the cabin, with her father hid
ing in the loft above. The union officer
is so charmed by the childs ingenious
prattle and is so affected by the pathos
of her situation that he does not deliver
over the father 20 his troopers when he
- off
place. Instead, the colonel writes out a
pass through the union lines for the
father and his child, so they can reach
Richmond. This pass nearly caused Col
onel Morrison to be shot as a traitor,
after the three principal figures in the
drama have taken part In some exciting
adventures the way to Richmond, but
General Grant investigates the affair to
his own satisfaction and is so impressed
with the testimony of the "Littlest Rebel
that he restores Colonel Morrison to his
command and Captain Cary, the Con-
federate officer, is spared the fate that
he wo4d have met as a spy.
The little girl and her doll reveal the
playwright in his happiest mood The
clild's winsome ways, her courage and
gooo humor and the plucky manner in
which She copes with many trying situa-
| with whom she comes in contact Around
| the child surges the red fury of a great
| intcrnecine struggle, herself pawn in
| the game and the greatness that lies in
| two mems hearts brought forth for her
| protection. Both the union officer and
the Confederate are fine types of men.
| Each is led to honor the other and they
make a chivalrous pair.
| Mr.. Farnum's performance last night
was characterized by the persuasive
power that is one of his distinguishing
| traits as an actor, and the thoroughly
convincing way in which he portrayed
| a military hero. While Alexis b. Luce,
who played the opposite role of Captain
/ Cary, of the Confederate army, showed
stendency at times to overact. he was
| in the main satisfactory Little Miss
| Mary Miles Mintur,--or was it Miss Helen
| IThebus?--proved to be a most capable
| artist and there was none of the unnat-
ural straining after naturalism which so
Otter mars the performances of children
| on the stage. She seemed to be just
| eiself, and in that most charming Nor
ris Burr. as the general of the union
army, and George Thatcher as Uncle
/ Billy, a negro slave, were both excellent.
! The battle scene in the third act is one
/ of the most realistic that. could be imag-
| ined, considering the limitations of stage
| perfoI nance. Every detail of this mimic
SlruSsie showed SAilieu stage manage
| ment and the action had all the swift,
| binding elan of a real fight. Smokeess
powder was used so that the chief actors
| in the scene were not too much obscured
and there was no discomfort in the 'au-
| dieIlce.
I Theatregoers who like good drama abiy
presented cannot afford to miss Dustin
Farnum in THE Littlest Rebel" i here
| will be matinee this afternoon and a
performance tonight, which will end the
! engagement.