The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-12-02
THE STAGE
DETROIT OPERA HOUSE.

lOlh, Wneu she Was mere last scusoHs
, laid away in tissue paper and laven-
der, Miss Marie Tempest, in calico,
schoolgirly dresses and her hair
down her back in a braid. appeared
Thursday evening, in the Detroit opera
house, in the old English comedy
drama Caste" But, although, Miss
Tempest changed her wardrobe she
did not discard one whit OF her charm
ing attributes rs comedienne and
she was as delightful as plebeian Pol
ly Eccles in Caste" as the high-bred
I smart Penelope, in the Somerset
Maughan comedy of that name in
which she shone SO brilliantly last
year.
Caste" was written over 40 years
ago by Tom Robertson and yet, as
presented Thursday evening. IL seem
ed as true picture today as In the
days when the late Queen Victoria.
who was said to have been very fond
of the play. was young matron. II Is
essentially English and In many ways
old-fashioned as bit OF play con-
struction, with its loud spoken
"asides" ana other evidences OF the
lack of subtlety and hnesse. the mod
ern theatergoer demands OF the nm
de steele playwright. Its story Is
simple one with no illsmelling prob
lem or startling situations. 1t re-
lates in a straightforward manner the
tale of the marriage OF the young son
OF a proud old marchioness with girl
OF lowly parentage, a dancer In the
ballet OF London pantomime show.
Not the sort OF ballet dancer the
Johnny of today lavishes orchids and
motor cars upon, but pure, hard work
ing girl OF irreproachable morals and
character. The Honorable George
D'Alroy marries pretty Esther Eccles
without informing his naughty mother
of that fact and they are living happiiy
together when the young man Is or
dered 10 India with his regiment. HIS
mother arriving in London unexpect-
eddy, learns OF the departure or ner
sons regiment and come TO DAlroys
lodgings. Until he can summon UP
enough courage TO tell his mother Oh
his marriage, he sends his wife into
the next room where she overhears
the marchioness talking TO her boy
about the regiments departure, fact
hitherto unknown TO Esther Inc
scene ends with the proud mother
repudiating her daughter-in-iaw ana
the young man, distract between love
and duty. holding the unconscious form
OF his girl-wife while in mind he hears
the bugles call Later the news comes
OF the young soldiers death and Es-
Their with her little baby mourns her
| life away in the humble lodgings OF
| her father and sister Polly. In the
end. however, the report Of Georges
death is found to be untrue and ne
returns TO console his pretty widow
and 10 proudly take possession or MS
son while his mother, rejoicing that
her boys life has been spared for-
gives his "mesalliance" and takes the
plebeian daughter-in-law TO her heart
In spite OF her impossible" relatives
In this simple domestic drama. Miss
Tempest as Polly Eccles, Esther
Younger sister fits as mischieVous,
hearty, plain little girl or Engllsh
lower middle class life, whose young
man" is a gasfitter by trade and whose
LOYALTY TO her bibulous old father can
not be shaken by his bare-faced pee
cadilloes The part gives star" ac-
tress small chance, the center M the
stage In the drama, naturally being
| held by Esther. Just why the play
| should have been given revival Tor
Miss Tempests use Is inexplicable,
unless. there was nothing in the
Charles Frohman play desk fit to be
brought out, busted and staged for
Miss Tempest. The play with which
she started the 1901 season was
complete failure which may be pos
sible partial explanation OF the pres
ent situation. Such plays as Caste"
usually are resorted to only for ALI
star" REVEALS like THE Two Orphans"
and other excellent bdt ancient dra-
| matte successes.
Miss Tempest is one Of the most
delightful actresses the American pub
lie knows. She has spirit, grace. good
schooling charm and that distinction
possessed only by the actress who has
mastered all the points OF the dramatic
game. 1t is a distinct loss to theater-
goers when Marie Tempest is not fit-
ted with the right sort OF medium for
her gracious talents. II is said that
she will return To New York with her
company to await a new production.
at the end Of her Detroit engagement,
Saturday evening.
The members OF Miss Tempest's
company are excellent artists. Ora
ham Browne as Polly's sweetheart;
Sam Gerridge, gave an admirable BIT
of character delineation as did VIII
liam Sampson as old man Eccles.
Stanley Dark as the ponderous swell
Captain Hawtree could not have been
better. and Dallas Anderson rose TO
the opportunities OF the Honorable
George D'Alroy with manly grace.
Helen Holmes was the sweet and tear
full Esther and Marguerite st. John.
the grande dame, the Marchioness De
St. Maur, to the life. The play was
delightfully."- staged and its simplicity
evidently made a direct appeal to the
audience for throughout the three acts
there was every evidence Of appreci-
alton and enjoyment.
During next week. Raymond Hitch |
cock will occupy the Detroit stage |
with late musical comedy success |.
called THE Man Who Owns Broad.
way"
ELLA MA EHAWTHORNE.
Felix and Cairo two OF vaudeville's |
most celebrated Juveniles, will head |
next weeks bill in the Miles theater,
presenting an act that Is appropriately !
called Just Kids" These clever |
youngsters have played all over the |
world and have won universal admir-
alton with their approximations OF
| famous stage folks. For the feature OF
! appnnh fnnnOrtap.a tho