The Washington times., 1916-04-04
"The Little Shepherd Of King
dom Come" Has Premiere
At Local House.
FOUNDED ON BOOK BY FOX
Tells History Of Three Waits,
a Boy, a GiH, and a Dog.
Cast Is Capable.

TIME breath OF the Cumberland
mountains stole across the foot
lights ut the Belasco Theater
last night and enveloped a will
Ing audience in the folds of bit or the
history Of three waits, boy. girl
and n dog. as told in the course OF a
new play by Eugene Walter, The Little
Shepherd of Kingdom Come"
Founded on the book OF the same
name by John Fox. jr., this play com
pares most favorably in many ways
with its predecessor, The Trail OF the
Lonesome Pine by the same author
and dramatist.
The story OF the boy chad. his dog
Jack, and the dramatization OF their
adventures with the Turner's and the
billions, Is intensely interesting. Jack
Davis In the role OF the boy hero does
excellent work, backed by a cast of
.wenty-hve. well chosen and well
trained. The dramatic appeal, how
ever, H. not as strong as in The Trail
OF the Lonesome Pine" nor Is there as
much OF the romance which played 30
large part In the overwhelming sue
cess or the latter production.
Chad's Enemy, Cherry.
The play opens at the point where
Chad Is about to be bound over to Ma
tran Cherry. an old rascal who makes
business OF hoodwinking the simple
people of the Cumberland out of their
lands and holdings. The little boy n
grief-stricken over the death of the
only relatives he has even known. his
aunt and uncle, and is first seen In
front OF his deserted cabin with his dog
Jack.
Not only is he quite alone in the
world, but worse still, Nathan Cherry
has sworn to kill his dog.
But he has a friend in Red Fox. an
old woodsman, who has a lifelong
ry. Red Fox Is the dens ex machina
OF the piece. appearing at the proper
moment In each act, to guide the af-
fairs Of the little boy to a happy erd-
BY Wallace owen, and is. with the IRE
sentation OF Jack Davis. as Chad.
one OF most substantial guarantees for
the future success of the Offering.
Red Fox comforts Chad. promises to
20 to the settlement and try to find out
who his kin" are. and deftly arranGes
that Melissa. an adopted child of the
Turner's. hear all that he says. She
steps from behind the bushes and
makes friends with Chad and his dog.
boy are wound up with those OF the
Turner's. With Nathan Cherry and the
billions on one side, and Red Fox. the
Turner's: and the stranger whom Red
Fox brings. on the other. the piece
proceeds to revolve about the fortunes
of the boy and the dog.
Fendists Fooled.
How the Dillons try to get the dos
killed on the grounds that he kills
sheep, the trial of the dog prisoner. and
the final attempt OF Nathan Cherry to
get the boy In his control constitute
the action of the play.
Four acts In three scenes are 90
staged as to contribute materially "a
that atmosphere of the mountain coun.
try which Is one of the main charms
OF the piece. Miss Mona Hungerford
as Melissa, the little girl who makes
the third waif in the trio of homeless
ones. is n consistently lively and de-
voted little heroine.
Comedy is inter1ected by the Tur-
ner boys and other minor members OF
the cast with a discretion and a nicely
OF balance which serves to tighten, but
not mar the pRthos OF the plot.
FLORENCE Z. YODER.