The Detroit times., 1910-11-22
y. ;5n1j; PLAY HOUSES

goody -goody. stilted little prig OF "A
stage youngster as hot house how-
er Is from the common garden sari-
ETY.. He Is sturdy, wholesome and Just
the sort of q small boy that plays on
every block IL you haven't the good
luck To have him as q member OF
your own family.
It is a little diffcult after having
made the acquaintance OF William TO
forgive the fates, or the playwright.
for placing the lad In the peculiar
position In which the close NJ the
third act leaves him. His sweet little
mother. played In q charmingiy girl
ish manner by Miss Emily Stevens.
Is found to have one Of those dread
ful "pasts," which used to be the sole
property OF the black-garbed white
faced heroine of the "melodrammer.
who Is cast out into the binding
snow storm OF paper bits with her
"chee-ild" ciasped to her bosom. in
this "drammer" Mrs Gordon Is found
to have had schoolgirl romance
with a German baron, who, with the
innocence OF her II summers to prey
upon. had tricked the eiri into eiop-
ing with him. keeping her a month
and then. her young eyes being open
ed to his viliainy. che leaves him TO
return TO her little home town.
With the desperation Of a fright
ened woman upon whom dishonof
presses fast. she marries In much
haste young man she has known
all her life. Their married life has
been ideally happy FOR eight years
with the child as the strongest -
between them. Then, the young hus-
band, who is also the leading banker
In the town, decides to run Tor mayor.
on the Prohibition ticket, not because
he Is a temperance leader. but be-
cause he believes that for the best In
terests OF the community the town
should be dry"
There happens TO be large brewery
Interests. in the town also, and as the
representative OF these interests
comes foreigner. who turns out to
be the scoundrel of Helen Gordons
youth Finding that Gordon has gone
into the mayoralty fight In a determ-
ined spirit TO win and that he cannot
be prevailed upon 10 withdraw
through any consideration OF money
or threats. the baron tries To get At
him" through Helen. On the very
eve OF the election Helen tells the
truth 10 her husband. fearing that
the baron will give the story 10 the
world Her mother love urges her q
sacrifice herself at any cost to save
the boy from dishonor. so she makes
the heart-rending confession This is
the point where the third act leaves
the auditor
The fourth shows the husband re.
fusing TO have anything further 10 do
with the child The little lad is
brought in with broken arm, which
he received while vainly trying 10
push his way through the crowd in
the run on his ''daddy's" bank. forced
by the opposing political interests.
with the money for which he has sold
his new bicycle, clutched in his hand,
meaning to add TO the banks treas.
ury.
There the audience Is forced to
withdraw. with no further knowledge
on the election. the future status Of
Helen and the boy. except that as the
huoi CutNolh uCSCChuS tic iu1utcu sttu
: Is in 00rdon's arms, with none OF the
threads OF the story OF the three
previous acts taken up in any way
whatever Following first hearing
the impression Is given that the play
contains splendid material with a cry
ing need for q new fourth act to make
1t one Of the most acceptable plays OF
the season.
The cast is exceptionally good
every member OF II showing marked
ability. Miss Stevens, cousin OF
Mrs. Fiske. bears all the evidences OF
the family genius and gives q very ap-
pealing and strong performance, OF
the wife
Every father and mother and every
student and lover Of childhood will
be benefited by a visit TO the Garrick
this week to make the acquaintance
OF Tommy Tobin as William Gordon,
Jr Such charming child characteriz.
atoms are few and far between. The
engagement Is for the week with mat
mess on Wednesday, Thanksgiving
day and Saturday.
ELLA MAE HAWTHORNE.