The Detroit times., 1910-09-27
IN D LOCAL
i LAYHOUSES
DETROIT OPERA HOUSE.

or the many Characterization MADE
famous by Mrs. Fiske. perhaps none
will be remembered longer than nor
Becky Sharpe In the play Of that name
made from Thackerary's Vanity
Fair" by Langdon Mitchell. and
which Mrs. Fiske revived Monday
evening, in the Detroit opera house.
When Mrs. Fiske hrst introduced
Becky 10 the public ten years or more
ago, the event was dramatic sehsa'
ton. and Mrs Fiske was extoiied
from one end OF the country 10 me
other for her remarkable impersoha-
ton OF one OF the best known chai'
acters In literature. Praise IN no ies-
ser measure Is still her due. A large
audience, representative OF the sur
ture OF Detroit's playgoers, thoroush-
ly enjoyed the performance, MONDAY
evening. and at the final curtain. MIS-
Fiske was called before the curtain
many times.
Mr.. Mitchell has been singulaily
successful in crystallizing the Leading
events In Becky's life into the III
its OF q four-act play. with such
| wealth OF material as exists In Ihack-
erary's book, II was difficult task
for any dramatist, and the wonder 10
that a play OF any real dramatic con-
sequence and coherency. was possible
Aided by Mrs. Fishes acting art, her
genius for stage detail and ability Us
producer, the playright's work Is
remarkably effective. Mrs. F1ske mas
taken q wonderful hold upon Becky
personality, and presents that engaS-
Ing and unscrupulous young person
with such fidelity that the character
seems TO come TO life from the pages
OF Thackerary's book
Mrs. Fiske's peculiar methods are
perfectly suited TO Becky's personal
ity. and the onlooker Is quite certain
that no other actress on the Amerl-
can stage could attain the same re
suits. The staccato speech, restless
ness OF movement and manner that
are q part OF Mrs. Fiske. were also q
part Of Becky as Thackerary intro
duced her Her glib and untruthi,l
tongue. her coQuetries and selfish
ness, her sharp wit and amusing sal
| lies, her shrewdness and ability 10
drive a bargain with the odds all Oh
her own side, were faithfully repro
duced by Mrs. Fiske, whose care In
dressing Becky was as artistic ard
complete as the rest of the picture
The first half Of the play moves along
amusingly. and one is not apt to De
more than casually interested III
Becky's firtations and wheedlinGs
and bare-faced swindling until the
incident between the Marquis OF
Steyne and Becky over the supper
table. The sudden appearance In the
room of Rawdon Grawley, brings the
unexpected In Mrs. Fiskes whirlwind
way of enacting the scene, and for
| few brief moments Mrs. Fiske holds
a tense grip upon her audience. This
scene has always been one Of the tire
mendous successes of Mrs. Ftske's
acting career, and to see her play II, is
worth all that goes before or after.
She had admirable support from
Holbrook Blinn as Steyne, and Henry
Stephenson as Rawdon Crawley. Mr..
Blinn seemed more effective than any
OF his predecessors In the part and
presented an admirable portrait Of the
notorious libertine of Vanity Fair. Mr.
Stephenson az big. good-natured weak
Rawdon, whose love for Becky blind
ed him TO everything else, was excel
lent. Robert v. Ferguson In the part
of old Sir Pitt Crawley gave strik,
| ing bit of well-conceived character
work. II 10 interesting TO note that
Mr.. Ferguson was the original Sir
Pitt and has played the part In all OF
Mrs. Fiske's presentations OF the
play. He has been a member OF her
company for many years. The cast Is
a long one, and as may be expected in
all OF the Fiske productions, thorough
ly capable. Florine Arnold as Miss
Crawley was especially good, as was
also Mabel Reed as Briggs, and Alice
John offered pretty embodiment oil
the sentimental, silly Amelia. Fatuous
Joseph Sedley, admirably done by
Harold Russell, and Sheldon Lewis,
as the Iove-lorn Dobbin contributed
distinctively to the success OF the
whole.
The staging was the same correct
investiture with which Mrs. Fiske first
produced the play and was carefully
wrought In every detail. The play
will be given again Tuesday evening
and at the Wednesday matinee, but
on Wednesday evening Will be laid
aside for the first presentation In De
troit of Ibsen's comedy pillars OF So
ciety" with which the engagement VIII
close. On Thursday evening Miss Ethel
Barrymore will come to the same
stage with "Mid-ChanneT to remain
for the rest Of the week.
ELLA MAE HAWTHORNE.