The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-02-10
THE STAGE
DETROIT OPERA HOUSE.

-
"Hedda Gabler" before a large audi
ehce in the Detroit opera house Tues
DAY night There is no mistahing tho
great favor this remarkable Russian
artistic has found among the patrons
Of this theater. a fact amply attestei
by the enthusiastic applause and nu'
merous curtain calls az the end W
each OF the four acts.
"Hedda Gabler" calls for very little
in the way OF scenery and accessorieJ.
one setting-a villa in the west end OF
Christiania-se for all four acts
But seven characters are required 70
tell the story OF n discontinued woman
who marries an honorable and worthy
man Before marriage she loved an
immortal poet, beast and a fool. bu-
for the sake OF society and position
To command luxury and wealth. she
gives her hard 10 George Tesman,
cnly 10 find that ne Is not only repu'-
sive 10 her and out OF tune with all
her ideals, but also lacking OF the
means to satisfy her whims for
grand pianos. footmen, fine horses.
etc. etc. Her perturbed state OF MINI.
and general misery. she discovers. Is
gradually driving her 10 moral de
struction. and she shoots herself. She
IS influenced to do this because she i
TO be the moth of child by the nus
band with whom she has no sympathy.
The character and happenings II
this play belong to country deserv-
ing the satire OF Ibsen's own imagina-
ton In "Hedda Gabler" there is
hardly universal truth except In the
~ ms
he in the play. the strongest impress
sion left after witnessing II Is that
this is a land OF devils.
Nothing could be more satisfactory
ana finished than Nine. Nazimova in
the character OF Mrs Tesman-
"Hedda Gabler.'' Throughout the
progress OF the play this woman OF
stone moves about as 1.-THE as the sen
suous serpents that entice with fear
ful fascination. She is natural. grace
ful and speaks all her lines with
faultless expression. When a company
Ct Russian actors came to this country
several years ago tn produce roper
toire OF lbsen plays in the native
Russian tongue. Nazimova was among
them. The enterprise was not a sue
cess, but while the balance OF the
company returned 10 Russia. this wee
and wisplke girl with the wonderful
eyes remained studied, mastered Emo
lish in a few months, and became a
great American star Her manner OF
pronunciation or curse betrays her
foreign birth and training but il Is
far from Objectionable or confusing;
indeed the foreign suggestion rather
lends music 10 Nazimova's speeches
and enhances their charm and beauty
Tonight Madame NaZimOva will end
Ter Detroit engagement with the first
( local representation of the Roberto
Bracco comedy, "Comtesse Coquette.'
.
When Jack Straw" the comedy in
which John Drew will be seen in the
Detroit opera house next week Mon
day. Tuesday and Wednesday, was
first done In London, Charles Ham
! trey. best known here as the star in
A Message from Mars" played the
title role and scored an enormous sue
cess. Mr.. Drew has this same part
here and has made one of the big
gest hits of his career in It, The
role is that of an eccentric prince OF
Pomerana. who after an adventure.
falls in love with a pretty English
girl whose snobbish mother has In
suited him most outrageously To get
a chance to WOO the girl. he resumes
HIS rightful name and title, and there
les OF complications. In the end. of
course, he gets the girl.
.
The Rocky Mountain Express" n
story of the west, presenting q sue
cession OF views from the Rockies and
telling "a decidedly interesting love
story and OF thrilling holdup will
be the offering in the Whitney next
week. Messrs. klimt and Gazzolo.
promise strong east and unusually
splendid scenic production.
Thomas +. Shea. the excellent actor,
will come to the Iyceum next week
i'll three great plays. Two OF them,
The Bells" and DIR. Jekyll and Mr.
Hyde" have been done here by Mr..
Shea previously and his excellent
work needs no commenting upon.
However, the new play, The Counsel
for the Defense" Is not so well known,
having been produced in New York
but for one week. last Christmas. This
play Is said To be entirely original.
, forceful in theme and OF high tension
throughout Henry Irving Dodge, a
prominent magazine and novel writer,
is responsible for the authorship. The
central role. that OF lawyer hired
by the woman he loves 10 defend her
/ husband on a charge OF murder. which
he, himself. committed, gives Mr
Shea unusual opportunity for the dis
play of his versatility. The play is
in three acts which deal with the com
/ plicated legal problem in thorough