The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-12-13
THE STAGE
DETROIT OPERA HOUSE.

audience went a-patterfng and ever
feminine voice said "Isr't she dear?
Elsie Janis, captured q big housefu
OF people Monday evening. In the De
troit opera house. when she brought
to town the new musical play, I'M
Slim PY&ucess." Since the days when
she used TO come TO the Temple the
alter at the age OF III years and en-
terrain us with her clever Imitation
under the name OF Little Elsie, Miss
Janis has not lacked for admirers IL
Detroit. She has grown into high!s
attractive young woman and has added
scores of friends 10 say nothing or al
army of boy and girl enthusiasts, wh'
flock TO the theater 10 clap themselves
weary In tribute To her joyous youth
and cleverness.
In The Slim Princess, which
Henry blossom made into stags
vehicle from incidents in George AIDE 5
story OF the same name, and Tor when
"Florudora" Leslie Stuart wrote the
music, Miss Janis perry AIDES the scene
throughout the three acts, for whicn
the public may be grateful. Miss Janis
Is one of those stage stars that twinkle
without a suspicion OF flicker OF
dimmed brilliancy during an entire
evenings entertainment In her pres
ent medium plenty Of opportunity IS
given her TO exercise her many ac'
complishments and the result is
most enjoyable entertainment.
Her famous limitations OF stage
celebrities find their place quite un-
expectedly, at the very end OF the
piece, as part OF a clever song num-
Der. Miss Janis has unusual gifts lr
this respect, and her mobile face
seems TO be able TO take or the exact
mask OF countenance of the person.
man or woman. whoin she is imper-
sonating. Every trick OF facial ex-
preston, voice and gesture, Miss Janis
presents In faithful mimicry. Monday
evening. she presented Ethel Barry
more, Anna Held. Sam Bernard. Eddi.
Foy, Harry Lauder and George Conan
with such fidelity, In the peculiarities
of these wellknown stage folk, that II
was no effort at all To believe that
pretty Miss Elsie had vanished and
the individuals mentioned were before
YOU In impersonations. Miss Janis
has long been acknowledged head and
ottempts similar WORK.
The Slim Princess" is fantastic
story about the daughter OF Turkish
governor, who is sent here and there
and everywhere with her German
tutor and suite, TO get fat so that
she may find favor as a beauty In the
eyes of the young Turks. Despite all
sorts of aids she loses rather than
gains in weight and, finally, in despair,
she returns TO her fathers home de-
termined 10 BLUM her family into be-
lieving that she is fat with the aid
of stuffed cheeks and huge padded
gown. The deception is discovered, III
course, and she is banished 10
America. The first act passes in Bort
veenia and the other TWO in Washing
ton, d. C.. All three settings are very
attractive, the first showing the pic
/ the Chevy Chase club house and golf
green in Washington and the third
the interior of a Washington residence
with ball In progress. The latter Is
delightful bit of Wedgewood decor
alton, and is not only unusual and ar
tistic but a charming background for
the display OF pretty frocks.
Throughout the three acts a charm
ing bevy of very young girls and boys
skip blithely In tuneful songs and
pretty dances. A quartet Of small
boy caddies, in the golf scene, made
such a hit that short song number
] by them had 70 be repeated half
dozen times.
The music Is of the very light and
"sweetly pretty" kind that Leslie
| Stuart usually writes for the English
musical pieces TO SO many OF which
his name has been attached. The en-
tire score is based upon his old Floro-
dora motif and every concerted num-
Der in The Slim Princess" rings in
the strain of the famous sextet. 1t Is
merely a matter OF change OF key.
The cast surrounding Miss Janis ia
of AN even excellence not often founi
In productions Of this kind Joe Cav
thorn as the German tutor is one Of
the chief funmakers, while Ralph
Nairn as a British consul, Josspn
Mlron as the Turkish governor and
| Charles Judels as an excitable Italian
count do the rest Of the eccentric
comedy. Wallace McCutcheon. Charles
King and Elizabeth Brice. with Miss
Janis. make up a group Of most attrac-
tive young people whose voices are as
pleasing AS their feet are nimble. Mr.
! King and Miss Brice made the hit
of the show with a southern song
called MA Dixie Land" which had TO
be repeated times without number.
The piece is well dressed, amusing
and worth going TO sec as one of the
best attractions likely t. be offered
Detroiters this season. An audience
that filled every box, orchestra and
balcony seat and all the standing
room, Monday evening, testified with
laughter and applause to the entire
satisfaction and enjoyment the show
afforded them. Miss Janis and her
clever associates will remain all week,
giving a Saturday matinee only. Next
week an English musical piece. The
Arcadians." will be the attraction.
ELLA MAE HAWTHORNE. ,
GARRICk.
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