The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-04-04


With is quaint old scenes Of ru-
raj New England and its story true
to nature. *Kebecca of Sunnyhrook
Farm" should prove one of the most
acceptable offerings yet presented by
the Grayee Scott Company at the Bi-
lou Theater and enc that should De
particularly appealing as an Easter
attraction at that popular playhouse.
Thousands of theatergoers have be
come acquainted with the lovahle
character Of Rehecca RoWena Ran
dell, who fits So gaily through the
chapters az Kate Douglas Wiggln
book and thousands more nave seen
the dramati1ed version of the story
as presented throughout the country
by klaw A. Erlanger during the past
four seasons. The eiriish heroine or
Mrs Virgins familiar "Rebecca"
books lost meme of her charm In the
transportation from the printed page
to the garlsh footlights, but rather
was the elnsh. whimsical fascination
Of this little New England lassie en-
| hi need by the clever characterize
| ton given her by Miss Charlotte
Thompson. who is responsible for the
dramatic version OF these delightful
stories.
No Trace ri Real tiiiainy.
There is no trace Of real villainy
p In the play--merely n series OF in
cidents taken from real life and de-
picting the characters Of the little
village of Riverboro vet withal form
Ting a story that grips the attention
and brings both laughter and tears.
The play IL told in four acts and
Aye scenes. The first act shows tn.
brick house. the second scene Of the
first act - laid in Cohb's kitchen.
TIE second act is laid in I4add's
iooryard. the third act in sawyer's
barn. and the fourth act takes us
back again 10 the brick house There
are no moments Of intense emotion.
there Is no effort 10 create it. /.
simply holds the mirror up TO nature.
and that is the highest form of dra-
ma In IL are the little tragedies
and comedies Of everyday life.
eprinkied with quaint hnmor. There
are presented a series OF pictures true
% life OF Il Maine country commu-
nifty You feel that these people
we're real people. living lives marked
with sturdy honesty. And in such
communities there is often found
some one person possessed of the
Gift OF Imagination and throwing
hroudn the commonplace affairs of
Existence the airy tracery OF fancy
Such a girl il Rebecca. who comes
10 live with her two aunts IN the
red brick house In order that she
may be educated and In time lift
he mortgage on the farm where live
fter widowed mother and her sin
brothers and sisters
There Ia Aunt Miranda in real
flesh and hlood~a punched. hard =
sheiled old maid aunt. making life
Full of penance for the fun-lov;ng
Rehecca. The narrow. economical
prejudiced side of country life por-
trayed in the spinster aunt. who,
Nevertheless had in her heart 4
Fond love OF the frolicsome girl in,
her care. is effectively contrasted in
he play as In the book by whole
ktuled Uncle Jerry Cobb, who Is al
ways helping his protege out of the
most dire and fateful consequences
|rhe old stage driver is as true to
hts type ~ rural life In Maine as
ire his fiea- bitten horses and rumb-
ling old stage
A WhoIe-Souled Play.
Commercinlism, passion and pain.
ire not even echoed In "Rehecca OF
sunnvnrook Farm IT helps to re-
AK the minG and to fit back for a
Inn Into EunshIne- And- happiness OF
hose DAYS when princes and prin-
cesses were as real as father and
mother. and every girl expected to-