The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1916-10-28
PLEASING PLAY
OPENS SEASON.
Large Audience Welcomes
Harold Bell Wright's
shepherd Of the
Hills

Transplanted from the eDchaDt
ed land eDchantiDg) pages of Har
old Bell Wrigbts famous "bes
seller" "The Shepherd of The
Hills" the quaint and homely
men and women of that novel step
ped on the stage of the EnglerI
theatre, last evening, and there
provided two and a half hours OF
real enjoyment, as they "lived and
moved, and had their being" be
fore q large and enthusiastic audi
ence.
SEASON OPENS AUSPICIoUSLY.
Despite bounding August
mercury, he season opened most
auspicioDsly-iudeed, and one of
the largest summer audiences ever
assem- Died in the playhouse greet
ed the excellent company that
GaskelI & McVitty have sent con
the road"
The dramatization of the popu
lar story by Rev. Mr.. Wight, him.
self, and +. w. Reynolds, has
been feliciously accomplished, and
the result IL a 4-act comedy drama
J that blends smiles AMI tears
thrills and laughs, III just the
proper proportion TO appeal
sti ongiN 10 men and women with
red blond in their veins, and a
sense of humOr to mellow the
sterner dramatic elements of life
"Sammy Lane is impersOnated
with winsomeness ana vitality, by
Miss DODnal Wilbur, and playing
opposite her is Laurence Foster,
who makes a splendid impression
as a virile, forceful "Young Matt"
Constance Nelson is pathetic and
impressive, as poor little Pete"
doomed and damned, yet blessed,
at birth. Martha Urbank is e.
cellent as "Aunt Molly" of home
spun ways, but noble heart.
Charles Ohlmeyer pleased greatly,
as the mysterious "Shepherd,"
and, in a dual role of heart brok en-
father and law breaking "tough",
Clarence SterllugI evlnced ability
in an unusual measure.
The comedy hit of the evening.
of course. was potentially "Preach.
in Bill", and Jess Nelson realized
those pOtentialities, aud made the
most of the many opportunities of
the role, winning veiitable
''Iaugh-a minute" when he faced
the fOOtlights. Y
All Ia all. tho dramatic season
Of 1916 1917, as above Indicated,
was ushered in under pleasing cir
cnmst ances, and the audience
that laughed and wept with the
fortunes Of the odd Char
acters last night, will always have
> cordial welcome for other Harold
Bell Wright creations, and Gas.
kell. McVitty Interpreters thereof.
Iowa Daily City Press, Thursday
August 81, 1916
There IS character in "The
Shepherd Of the Hills" the drama ;
isation of Harold Bell WIight's z
lovel, which will have Its second Z
annual engagement at the Elks Z
Theatre on Saturday, November z
/, called "Preachin' Bill" De z
pite the roughness of his cbarac- Z
err, be has a brand Of philosophy z
hat in its way is quite equal to z
hat of "David Harum." Some Of 4
il sayings are: z
"Some fellows can do mighty Z
ig things in burned little way" Z
avery hound has his strong Z
0ints, but some has more OF 'em" z
"There Is q bond of fellowship
J sorrow that knows no conven z
opalities." Il
"God 'lmighty fixed it somehow z
} tn birds and varmints don't z
'ake no mistake, but left hisfs
lumb easy for men and women tas
AXE burned fools of themselves" 3
"Hit's good fer q fellow t. be
own IN the back once in a while, Z
hit warn't for that we'd git to
aDdin' so burned proud and {
raight we'd 60 plumb over back. Z
ards.n
The dramatic critic Of the Bir
lngham, Ala. News in review !
& the play last season enthusi
'tically calls the character of
'reachiD' Bill"everybody g friend, /
I.lasting memory"