The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1908-03-17
IN LOCAL pLAlHOU5[5
TIE DETROIT.

Miss Viola Allen, the charming ac-
tress, and her company appeared in
| the Detroit Opera house Monday night
| Wycherly" good-sized audience
was present and attested its appre.
citation of the artists presentation Of
the play. If not the play itself
The so-called problem plays have
many champions and, on the other
hand there are numerous theater-
goers and critics who hold that these
| presentations or the baser sides OF
human nature were better left off the
boards. However, this is matter for
the public TO decide, and the fact that
| Miss Allen and her company stood the
| test III London and have had a follow
ing In the larger cities of this coun-
try leads To the opinion that many are
still interested In the manner I'm which
these problems are worked out by the
various playwrights. In the play ia
question, Miss Allen appears in the
leading role. In many instances, the
play is offensive, but 1t Is we'll con-
structed and the dialogue is good.
Irene Wycherly" is a cultivated,
religious woman. who married Philip
Wycherly, brute, but at the end of
six years left him because OF his crul-
ties. Philip Is the son or Sir Peter
and Lady Wycherly, both OF whom at
che time of the opening OF the play.
are anxious that Irene return to her
husband. They are likewise averse
TO the attention shown Irene by one
Harry Chesterton, whom she holds up
as an ideal. She rejects all overtures
for reconciliation with her husband
and Is about to go TO the theater with
Chesterton when Sir Peter arrives
with telegram containing the an
nouncement that her husband has
been shot while hunting and may die.
Irene's womanliness comes to the
rescue and she at once goes to the
side of her husband This ends a re-
markably good act.
The second act takes place In the
home OF Philip. He has been blinded
by a gunshot wound, inflicted no one
seems to know how. All the worst ele-
ments In the mans nature seem to be
aroused by the calamity which has be-
fallen him and he treats his wife
shamefully, even before their guests
and the servants. He forces her 70
invite to the home two old acquain-
tancss. Mr.. and Mrs. Sumner. but
suddenly changes his mind and asks
Irene 10 let the past bury itself. He
suggests that they go away on a sec.
ond honeymoon trip. Revolted by the
grossness OF his manner. she repulses
him with horror. which SO enrages
him that. he insists on sending the let.
ter to the Summers and declares that
he will be revenged on her.
In the third act. Irene discovers.tha
Mrs. Summers. who has been inrl0.
duced in her home. IS Mrs. Cave who
had previously been involved with
Philip. and she orders her from the
house. Then II comes out that Sum.
ner had long suspected his wife. and
that II was he who hred the shot that
blinded Philip. Irene's action con-
yinces him that he was right and he
ends the drama by putting a bullet
into Philips brain and then one Into
his own. The audience learns of this
only through the sound OF the revol-
ver shots.
Miss Allen Ia an experienced and ga.
Fable actress and makes the most G.
the trying part OF Irene Wycherly, q
cultivated, religious woman who Will
not seek To free herself from her hns
band by divorce because of the law OF
her church. Her de'neation OF the
part where feminine instinct and
merciless duty clash. Is exceptionally
fine.
Edwin Arden. MS the degenerate.
,echerous Philip. showed great power
ny an actor and elicitod applause even,
Ia such a positively repelIant role.
The cast IL unusually strong In tho
nrst act Marie Wainwright. Moran
Lsmison and Mrs. Den Webster are
splendid, but are seen no more. Grant
Stewart as Sir Peter wycherly: Paul
MoAilister's Harry Chesterton: John
CiendennIng as Sumner: Miss Nellie
Thorne az Muriel Wycheriy. Mrs. Sam
sothern as Lily Summers, Miss Eve
/ iyn LOOMS "a Mrs. Hetheridge: Miss
Norah LsmIson as HiIds Preston, and
Miss WATSON rs the mad arc cnch and
all deserving Of special praise for their
sricicnt work. They left nothing 90
4 There win be performances Tues.