The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-06-07
In the Local
Playhouses
DETROIT OPERA ROUSE.

THE bohemian Glri, eIahu opc'a
In three acts. by Michael William
Balfe, the scene being laid In Pres
burg and its environs In the eighteenth
century. is the offering OF the Aborn
Grand Opera company In the Detroit
opera house this week Act one dis
closes the grounds Of Count Arnheim.
governor OF Presburg. where his re-
fainers are waiting to accompany the
count to the hunt His foppish nephew
Florestein. who appears with him. Is
afraid OF a gun. The count bids rare
well to his little daughter, Airline, leav-
ing her with her nurse, Buda, ana
Florestein. Thaddeus. a Polish exile.
appears. exhausted from pursuit. fol
lowed by gypsies, headed by Devil.
shoot. Thaddeus joins the band. adopt
ing the gypsy dress. The huntsmen
return In excitement, for Airline has
been attacked by wild animal. Thad-
deus rescues her and the count invites
him to feast. but he refuses TO
drink to the emperor and Is impris-
oned, along with Devilshoof. The lat
ter escapes. carrying off Airline.
Twelve years later Airline Is found
sleeping in the tent OF the queen OF
the gypsies In the streets OF Presburg.
while Thaddeus keeps watch. Devil
shoot attempts to rob Florenstein, who
is flushed with wine, but the gypsy
queen makes them return everything.
Devilshoof, however, secreted a me-
dallion. Airline wakens and tells
Thaddeus her dream (aria, Il Dreamt
Dwelt In Marble HallsO Thaddeus
and Airline declare their love. The
queen Is jealous, but ridiculed by
Devilshoof, joins their hands accord
ing to the gypsy rite.
Later. Count Arnheim and Florestein
appear at fair, whore the latter COM
pliments Airline, which amuses her
until he attempts to kiss her. when she
slaps him. The queen, recognizing
Florestein, gives Airline the stolen
medallion, so that she will be accused
Sf robbing him. The plan succeeds.
but Thaddeus and the gypsies protect
Airline. Nevertheless, she and Thad-
deus are imprisoned. Airline pleads
her innocence before the count, but is
hbout to stab herself. when she Is
recognized by the count as his daugh-
er. She longs. however. for her gypsy
pver and Devilshoof begs her to re-
pin the tribe. Thaddeus appears at
be window singing, Then You'll Re-
ember Me" Thaddeus discloses his
entity as a Polish noble. and the
fpsy queen In an attempt to kill him
prevented from doing so by Devil
oof. who accidentally shoots her.
pe affair ends happily for the others.
LYCEUM.
A wig and the liberal use OF grease
int OF copper hue transformed
kughan CHASER into an Indian, Sunday
ght. 'Strongheart" was his name,
id the makeup was splendidly exc.
ted, but in his slow. measured tread
I'D little mannerisms OF voice and
ttion, Lyceum patrons promptly
Icognized Mr.. CHASER. No amount of
tease paint. no combination of wigs
nd habiliment can obliterate the Gla-
pr personality. And this is we'll, for.
ter all, 1t Is the Chaser personality.
up1ed With the personality OF Miss
by Courteney and support that Is
most uniformly adequate, that has
AIDE the CHASER stock company what
Is. That personality Is, In fact, its
e biggest asset.
The CHASER version OF "Strongheart"
bes not suffer materially by COM
hrison with the original production,
which Robert Edeson scored proba-
Sly the biggest hit OF his career thus
ar. The latter was more deliberately
staged, perhaps, but at that the diff
ference was by no means marked and
should In no way interfere with ones
enjoyment OF the Lyceum Offering.
The parts are well assigned, every
member OF the company showing to
good advantage.
Miss Courteney naturally, Is Doro-
thy Nelson, whose love Strongheart
wins only TO have his dream Of bliss
shattered by the news that his father,
a chief, is dead, which means he must
return to his people and take his
. father,g place. The parting scene just
! before the final curtain is we'll exc
cuted by Mr.. CHASER and Miss Court
eney.
Outside of the principals, one OF the
best bits OF acting Is the Billy Saun-
ders of James A. Hester, which Is
simply another instance OF that fin
1shed actors versatility. The scene in
| the dressing room OF the Columbia
football team, in act two, leaves moth
ing to be desired. The company seems
to have caught the spirit Of the occa-
sion and manages to stir up genuine
enthusiasm In the breasts of specta-
tors. While the game is purely mag
mary, the erect Is quite real.
For next week the company is re-
hearsing David Belasco's Rose of the
| Rancho" which will be presented for
the first time In Detroit.
LAFAYETTE.
The Lafayette theater was crowded
| all day Sunday. The roomy seats and
! cool and well-ventilated auditorium
were treat In this warm weather.
The vaudeville program was a sue
cess. II was headed by John and
Alice Mcdowell. the old favorites. In
a new and jolly sketch which made
decided hit Philips and Newell gave
bouquet of new and pretty songs and
dances, which were repeatedly en-
cored. other good acts were con-
tributed.
The performance was irterespersed