The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-03-22
DETROIT OPERA HOUSE.


II seems a great pity that delightful
Marie Tempest should visit Detroit
during Holy Week and thereby pre-
vent large number Ct regular theater.
Boers from becoming acquainted with
her charming self and also prove a
sore temptation 20 the faithful follow.
ers OF the final pei iod OF sackcloth and
ashes to slide from grace and 20 to sse
Penelope" at the Detroit opera house,
anyway.
Miss Tempest Is dstractingly clever
and magnetic and as charming an act
ress as Detroit mas had the good for
tame To receive. The audience that
welcomed her Monday evening was not
az large az IL would have been did not
religious duties make theatergoing a
prohibitive pleasure passion week.
Although Miss Tempest has spent her
time on the London stage for num-
her OF years she Ia no stranger 10
America, and decade or so ago she
was one OF the charming figures and
voices OF the light opera stage. Now,
she Is the Coincidence, pure and SIM
pie. and very delightful actress. Es'
sentially English, she has none OF the
characteristics OF the London stage
favorite that Americans frequently find
offensive. and she has all the charm
and smartness aud fnesse the cultured
Englishwoman OF Tic stage possesses
There are moments when "Pene'
lope" would become a farce were II
net played In such a quiet manner and
so sabdued a key. Its comedy Is or u"
ms
and satirical and its dialogue pungebt
and epigrammatic out perfectly comine
Il faut IT'S characters wear the most
correct clothes, hayo absolutely per
feet manners, and everything happens
In an exquisitely polite fashion. MISS
Tempest's frocks are modish to "A de-
gree, her figure ditto, and her stage
house furnished in that attractive
manner OF the English, with quaint
chintz covered chairs and draperies'
flowers throughout the room, and from
q sunny window q glimpse OF the rea'
English garden beyond window boxes
OF geran!ums and pinks. The whoie
lffair is as English from curtain 10
curtain. character to character anu
actor TO actor as the pea soup FOG OF
London.
w. Somerset Vaughan wrote "Penc-
iooe," AMI in IL he cleverly satirizeS
the medical profession. the afhnity-
seeking and the average mans lack
Of sense of humor. Penelope Is inc
name OF he young wife OF Or. Ordr-
rell. who, because OF her extreme avs
play OF affection for him. has become
c'oyed with marital bliss and goes sen
timentally philandering after a grass
widow. To carry on this Irritation me
doctor and his inamorata invent nc
tious old lady patient. ms mag
inary person affo.d Dis the doctor his OK
cuse for frequent absences from home,
but Penelope soon discovers the truth
ard her FIRST thought is 10 divorce the
recaIcitrant spouse. Taking her ram
NV into her confidence, however, ner
father counsels her to match her wis
and fascination ~ person against III"
dashing grass widow for the doctor .
devotion. Just now she carries Out
this scheme makes the threeact COM
CIV and keeps the onlookers In rip
pie of laughter. Penelope not ohN
shows her husband the error OF MS
y.ays but completely routs the WHO"
and accompIishes X all without any
n, sterics or mock Eerolcs. her o"T
weapon Is her own keen sense OF nu'
NOR and her hubby goes down 10 ae'
feat from lack OF II.
In the first act, Mr.. Maugham ue
votes himself to drawing a group Oh
men and women TO be round IN aiJ
London west-end ,rawing room; IN the
second. TO delicious bit or satlre u"
ito way the modern fashionable doctor
handles his patients imaginary MS
I'm scene in the doctors consulting
roam I'm the last TO Penelope ais
romfture OF the widow and TRIUMPH
over her philandcring spouse
The company Is al importation IRON
london. thoroughly English, therefore
Thoroughly capable 70 enact Mr.. Mau-
.nam's thoroughly English characters
An esneciallv effective bit of work Is
lone bv Wilfred Draycott as Daven'
tort harlow. Penelope's oachelor
uncle who is q great stickler TO-
"familv" and loves to appear on Ia
,ailIar terms with duchesses and
countesses and honorable ladles 10 ho
ord. Miss MaDel Trevor, VINO mas
been on the stage OF the Detrot ue'
fore with English companies ""'
naughty widow Mrs. Ferguson MISS
Maud Milton. Penelope's mother; her
hsrt Ross. her father; Mcintyre WICK
r,eed the family solicitor; MISS Gar
,a Ice Stovle. one Of the doctor pt
,,arts Nrs Watson. and Miss Mamie
1tennett as lnaiG. DR.. OFarren'
peneIope's husband found vefV
,nvenile.like and amateurish exponent
in philip Desboi ough. a good-lookins
but very young man who made one
wonder how in the world a nice giri
Ike penelope could cast her love Oh
Sc weak a STRIPPING.
The engagement OF Miss Tempest Is
Cor the week, with matinees on
"Wednesday and Saturday.
ELLA MAE HAWTHORNE
GARRiCk.