The Detroit times., 1908-09-25
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THE DETROIT.

Charming Ethel Barrymore and her
company opened a three nights en-
gagement in the Detroit opera house
Thursday evening, presenting w.
Somerset Mangham,s newest play,
Lady Frederick" That Miss Barry
more has a firm hold on the hearts OF
Detroiters was evidenced by the large
audience that greeted her on this her
premiere appearance here this season.
II matters little what the play. the
actress is the center Of attraction, and
her reception, Thursday evening, was
a veritable triumph.
Lady Frederick" Is a comedy In
three acts. and in the central figure,
Lady Frederick Berolles. Miss Barry
more has found a role in every way
suited to her requirements. Lady
Frederick Is young Irish widow who
is living like a princess at Monte Car
10, yet who is In reality an aristocratic
pauper. Her creditors are many and
they press her for payment OF their
bills on every hand, yet, when one, a
hard-visaged modiste, savagely de-
mands her money, a mere bagatelle Of
700 pounds, Lady Frederick so works
on the gullible tradewoman's vanity
that she not only refuses the check
offered by her aristocratic patron, but
offers apologies for her importantly.
Lord Mereston. many years Lady
Frederick's junior, has fallen in love
with the irresistible widow His moth.
er, Lady Mereston. is in positive terror
that marriage will follow, and to
circumvent II interests her brother.
Paradine Fouldes. TO aid her. Fouldes.
who had once had an intrigue with
Lady Frederick, promises his sister
that he will do everything in his power
TO prevent the anticipated mesalliance
and there ensues a battle royal. in
which the man fights fairly and
squarely. while Lady Mereston resorts
TO despicable devices to accomplish
her ends Her trump card, she as
serts, is letter in Lady Frederick's
handwriting. indicating a previous es-
capade. Lady Frederick, too, has some
evil documents in her posse seion,
which point to scandal In the Meres-
ten family, but instead Of getting re-
venge when Lady Mereston makes the
cruel exposure, she wilma the hearty
approval Of the audience by burning
the letters with which she might have
fotied her enemies
4 Her magnanimity completely wins
young Mercston and Foulds To he,
side. However. when Lord Merestor
calls TO receive his answer to his pro
posal Of marriage, Lady Frederick. II
one OF the cleyerest- bits of actin,
seen on the stage, disillusionizes he
| youthful sutton by showing how reall
plain she Is until she Is made up.
So, In her dressing room, In mos
unbecoming yellow kimona, with wisp
of hair streaming about her face sh.
calmly uses powder and rouge on heI
face, pencils her eyebrows and assure.
the young lord that her hair lis no
dyed; II is Just touched up bit"
Much discounted. the youthful Low
er takes leave. but Fouldes steps In
and realizes that beneath the powder
and paint there IS a real woman, and
the curtain falls, leaving the couple
happily united.
The picture OF English manners AMI
society Is cleverly drawn by Mr.
Maugham, and while the play is no,
exciting, from a dramatic standpoint
! II contains maeA-wit- and hHmer- and
there are no straining after effects.
Lady Frederick was produced last
October In the Court theater. London,
and IL the reception IL received here