The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-06-23
In y LOCAL
! rMs j LAYHOUSES
oARRIck.

In the brief visit to Detroit OF the
New Theater company, OF New York.
local theatergoers were given the
fullest opportunity to become ac-
quainted with the strength and re-
sources OF the company OF players
Identified with the home OF dramatic
art In America-the New Theater--
the performances OF W. dnesday, when
the mystic play Sister Beatrice" the
modern comedy, Don and the class
ic. The School for Scandal" were pre-
sented. making demands that were
fully met by players and management
at every point. The Garrick theater
was filed both Wednesday afternoon
and evening. despite the exhansting
and oppressive heat, with audiences
representative of the social and in-
tellectual life of the city.
| A moving. compelling and beautiful
performance was given ny Miss Edith
Wynne Mathison OF the name part in
Sister Beatrice" Mas Mathison Is
no stranger to Detroit followers Of
the drama. Her voice is q delight TO
the ear at all times, but L., a role like
that OF the Inflated nun, Miss Mathi-
sons splendid gifts hac fullest oppor-
tunity.
Sister Beatrice, the youngest nun.
IN the convent Is swayec by affection
for a gallant lover, Prince Bellidor.
He comes to her, strips her cloister
garb from her back. clothes her In
satin and jewels to take her away into
the night and the world. Tortured by
her love for the man. her devotion to
her God end her remembrance Of hcr
VOWS, she falls at the feet of the Vir-
gin Mary and In one OF the most ex.
quisite and impassioned appeal iui.
plores The Virgin 10 give her one
sign that she Ii about 10 commit an
unforgivable sin. No sign comes and
Sister Beatrice fees. In the dim light
Of the night shadows OF the cloister,
the Virgin Mary steps from the niche
which has been so zealOusly guarded
night and day by the sainted nuns,
places Sister Beatrice's discarded garb
about her shoulders aid awaits the
approach OF the sisters. AS the nuns,
walking with Bonded heads and hands
crossed in prayer on their way to
mathis, discover the loss cf the statue,
they accuse Sister Beatrice Of It's
| theft, and at the command Of the
chaplain decree that she shall be
scourged with their hempen girdles
at the foot of the altar AS they push
the supposed Sister Beatrice to the
chancel miracle is performed and
the nuns hands are stayed by blind
ing shower OF incense and flowers.
| They draw back TO fnd themselves
enveloped In a holy light, pure white
lilies growing from their STATS and
Sister Beatrice clothed with won
derful brilliance
Twenty years later, the real Sister
Beatrice returns. aged and worn with
physical suffering and mental unrest.
AS she enters the cloister gates the
statute is seen In its former niche and
Sister Beatrice falls al its feet. The
nuns find her PROSTATE and seeing the
statue returned believe Sister Beatrice
has been overcome with Joy at its
recovery. They listen with incred-
ulous ears and minister with soothing
hands to, the stricken and dying
Beatrice as she tells them to the
depths Of her sin in the world. Has
she not been among them always?
Her twenty years penarcc because OF
the loss OF the statue IT. ended and
her reason has given way they think.
| totuti iSC uiOc anu iCi clstCto pray
the departed soul " saint
The play is STEPPED in the atmos-
phere of the religious faith OF the dis
| tant ages and Is given a reverent and
beautiful representation by the New
Theater company. The central flgur
! throughout is Sister Beatrice, and
whether as the real run or the sem
blance or the Virgin. Miss Mathison
was an exquisite picture. Pedro de
Cordoba was Prince Bellidor, Mrs. Otis
DellenbaYeh the Abbess and Ben
Johnson the chaplaiii-all entirely
capable.
The transition to the modernisms of
Don" was startling. This play was
written by Rudolph Besier and its
| action takes place in an English
country rectory. II is almost farcicsl
in its treatment. yet under and above
the situations which give rise to
laughter is the tragedy of a devoted
mothers heart. Mrs. Dellenbaugh as
the mother of Don. had the right of
way in the three acts and her acting
| was all that the most critical could de-
mand. T.. NJ Hollands work as Don's
| father the canon, was gem of
dramatic art Don was admirably
played by Henry Kolker. and the re-
naming members of the cast seemed
TO have been born for their particular
roles.
In The School for Scandal" Miss
Annie Russell was a charming roguish
and altogether delightful Lady Teazle,
plaguing Sir Peter with a fascinating
raillery. Sir Peter In the hands OF
Louis Calvert was Just Sir Peter to
the life. Mr.. Calvert's acting talent
had further demonstration In the az
ternoon when he gave a remarkable
character bit in Don"
Miss Rose Coghlan, as Mrs. Can
dour was given a cordial welcome as
she stepped on the stage, a like
tribute being offered Mr.. Holland,
both of whom are so well-known to
older theatergoers. The entire cast
in Sheridan's comedy was OF the ALI
star" variety. only better than most
of the famous aggregations which
have visited Detroit in the past under
that caption.
| Every detail OF the New Theater
productions Is carefully worked out
and the uuickness with which stage
settings are handled was a lesson in
modern stagecraft. The engagement
of the company at the Garrick was an
artistic opportunity, thoroughly APP
preciated, and the players could not
but feel that their efforts we're
recognized and that they had made
| n -. 4. -