The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-01-04
DETROIT OPERA HOUSE.

The Joyous incarnation OF a mis-
chievous sprIte Is Miss Billie Burke.
who appeate ed for the first time In this
city Monday evening I'm q the Detroit
Opera house. AS pretty and dainty as
the inncrmost petal or a pink rose.
Miss Burke Is the most delightful and
refreshing bit OF femininity that De-
troit thcasergoers have had an oppor-
tunity TO welcome in long time. She
bubbles ana effcrvesccs and sparkles
and radiates with q charm and grace
that Is all her OWE. Her frocks are
her nose Is daring and retroussc, her
you have Billie Burke.
The play is-"a comedy In four acts
entitled Love Watches by H. DeFiers
and G.. de Caillavet. adapted by Gladys
Unger"-so reads the program. IL you
go In the expectation OF seeing one
Of those scintillating comedies full OF
repartee and subtlety your French
playmaker knows so well how to build.
you Will be disappointed. Love
Watches" is not comedy but farce
when II Is not a sugar plum. II might
almost be called TOO Much Ernest"
from one OF the characters I'm IL. Were
II not for occasional flashes OF some
thing almost human in the internreta-
ton Of the role OF Ernest Augarde by
that capable actor, Ernest Lawforu,
there would be decidedly too much OF
Ernest, who Is a prig and bore any,
way. The brightest wit In the piece
falls to Marquise de Juvigny, role adj
mirably acted by Miss Kate Meek. The
dialogue giveh her many brilliant cpl
gram. With Miss Burke II Is not what
she says as the way she says 1t and
the way she does Il,
The story has to do with Jacqueline,
a petted and imperious little beauty,
but lOvable and sweet, who falls In
love with Andre de Juvigny. proposes
to him and marries him. The second
act shows them in their house in Paris
just after the honeymoon. and the
atmosphere Is saccharine and heavily
laden with OSCILLATION. IL Miss Burke
were less ingenious or less skilled in
the art 1t would like-be case OF
too much kissing" AS Il was, there
was not a masculine soul I'm the house
but wished he might have had a share
In the kissing-fest. Jacqueline becomes
inquisitive as TO Andres previous
amours, and when hubby Is driven into
some indlscreet II truthful admissions,
WHEY has a fit Of Mysteries and green
eyes. When a particularly fascinating
widow with the fainting-in-your-arm
habit visits Andre while Jacqueline is
out and Andre, acting as first aid to
the injured as the lady faints-an old
assistance, by the way--is obliged to
IaCnnrf hnr hnY,,n Ionnnn1tnn Foil
plete prey TO the green-eyed monster
and flies TO the protection" of Ernest
AS nobody has ever thought of Ernest
as anything but harmless idiot. his
role as Jacqueline's lover is laughed
at as a joke. OF course, in the end,
Jacqueline forgiyes her gay blade of a
husband. smothers him with more
kisses and ,fervent embraces and the
sugar plum is eaten.
You may quarrel with the silly, in
consequential. albeit amusing frothi-
ness Of the play but you will surrender
without murmur to the charms of
delightful. bewitching Billie Burke,
and think yourself mighty fortunate to
have the chance.
The supporting cast Is numerous
one. Miss Maud Odeil, as the hand
some widow. and Miss Meek. as the
Marquise, carry OF the honors aside
from Miss Burke.
The theater was crowded with a
fashionable throng that rippled with
laughter, said nice things to one an
other about Miss Burke. applauded her
with enthusiasm, admiring her frocks
and her winsome girlishness and vot-
ing 1t all very delightful affair.
The engagement is for the week
with matinee on Saturday only.
ELLA MAE HAWTHORNE.