Special to The T&D

"Captain Felder's Cannon," the dramatic staging of the bravery of a Revolutionary War leader in the Orangeburgh District from 1776-1780, will be presented at the Orangeburg County Fine Arts Center at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 18. Tickets are $10 each and available at the arts center.

Performed by The Actors' Theatre of South Carolina, the play gives an inside look at the world of Captain Henry Felder (played by Clarence Felder) and what inspired him and others in his life: Bloody Bill Jenkins (Michael Easler) the man who killed Felder; Henry Felder Jr. (Miles Pittman), who took over the fight after his father's death; Felder's friend, the African freeman and fighting comrade Edward Green (Charles Venning); and his wife, Katherine Snell Felder (Chris Weatherhead).

Clarence Felder, a native of St. Matthews and direct descendent of Capt. Henry Felder, is a nationally known Shakespearean actor who performed on stage in the New York area for many years. He was featured on television for two years as Bobo Pritzer on ABC's "Hooperman" and was in the feature films "The Last Boy Scout" and "The Hidden."

Felder is well remembered for his portrayal of Hermann Goering in "2: Goering at Nuremberg," which was performed at Stevenson Auditorium. He is not only a period performer but also a comedy actor, having starred in the musical comedy "Isn't It Lovely" and the uproarious "Southern Men," both performed on the OCFAC stage.

"Captain Felder's Cannon" inspired the independent feature motion picture "Liberty," which will be released in 2008. "Liberty" was filmed in 26 locations all over the state, including 10 days of shooting on the Felder Farm in Calhoun County.

Following Tuesday's performance, a reception and "Liberty" trailer screening will be held at OCFAC. The Felders welcome "anyone who can claim a Felder ancestor" to join them for a historical photo.

"Captain Felder's Cannon" has received funding assistance from the Orangeburg County Accommodations Tax Fund and the South Carolina Arts Commission, which receives funding from the National Endowment for the Arts. For more information or tickets, call 803-536-4074.

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