The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-04-27
DETROIT OPERA HOUSE.

|
A drama OF extraordinary force and
originality Is The Thief" presented
for the first time In this city, Monday
evening. In the Detroit opera house
with Kyle Rellew, Efie Shannon and
Herbert Kelley in the chief parts. Hen.
ri Bernstein Is the author. and the
story Is one of morals and emotions.
No one can hear II without being
deeply interested.
The plot concerns two families. M,
and Mime. Voysin, bride and bride.
groom. and NJ. and Nine. Lagardes and
the formers son, Fernand. A theft
has been committed In the chateau OF
the Lagardes. near Paris. and M. Le-
gardes secured the services of a de.
tective to ferret out the identity OF the
guilty party For some time, Fern
and, an impetuous youth Of l9, has
entertained a romantic love for Nine.
Voysin, who mas been leading him on.
simply in spirit of mischief
| The detective announces In the pres
ence OF M. Legardes and his guests
that FernaId has peen guilty OF the
theft OF quite a sum of money from
his step-mother's desk, and Nine. Voy-
sin. the actual thief. taking advantage
Of the detectives error, cunningly asks
the youth to shield ner This he does,
by declaring himself to be the GRIM
inal.
| Later in the evening, NJ. Voysin
finds a big sum Of money in his wife's
purse, and finally wrings from her, bit
| by bit, confession that II is she who
has been pilfcring from her friend for
some time
| She finally makes a confession, but
declares that she did 1t because she
wanted to he we'll dressed so that her
husband might retain his love for her.
NJ. Voysin finally forgives his wife for
the theft, but the thought finally
comes to HIN, why did young Fern
and accuse himself of the crime Then
he suspects mis- wife's honor, and here
she changed from a hapless wretch, a
thief. to an outraged woman, and the
curtain goes down on the husband and
wife unreconciled. The third act re-
veals Fernaud about to be sent to Bra
I'll TO make atonement for his sin,
and saying farewell to the Voyslns In
| the presence OF his own family. He
breaks down utterly and begs for pity,
! but as he leaves the room, the real
culprit confesses her guilt to her
friends. OF course, she Is forgiven
and the last curtain~sees everyone
happy.
Kyrle Bellew plays Richard Voy-
sin, the husband. in a natural manner
and when, In the second act the height
OF tragic acting Is demanded he is
equal to the occasion. His characteri-
zation Of the almost frenzied husband
Is fine piece OF acting. practically
fiawless. Ellie Shannon lends worthy
assistance rs Marise, the wife, giving
an intelligent Interpretation of the de-
cidedly feminine and complex charac-
ter. The enjoyableness OF the lines,
however. are otter marred by her
poor enumeration and jumbling OF
words. In The second act, where so
much Is demanded Of her, she rose to
the occasion and gave a splendid In
depreciation Of the furious woman.
The character of Lagardes is not
one that makes great demands on tho
actor. but 1t was impersonated most
acceptably by Herbert Kelley, and
demonstrated that he Is player who
gives a careful attention to even the
minutest detail The scene between
| Lagardes and Fernand in the last
act Is one of the most affecting in the
play. Eugene O'Brien, who played
Ferpsnd, displayed unusual ability
and his acting does not suffer by COM