The Detroit times., 1910-02-08
DETROIT OPERA HOUSE.


more enthusiastic welcome I'm this city
than that which greeted his appear
apce in Alfred Sutro's The Builder
OF Bridges. Monday evening A very
large and fashionable audience was
gathered for this first performance of
Ia play which has come heralded as
one of the seasons successes, and the
star and his excellent support were
accorded that sympathetic attention
from In front of the Iootlights which
SO adds TO the presentation OF any
drama There were several curtain
calls after each act but the last
The Builder OF Bridges" Is an ac-
tors play, and IL was designed for an
excellent actor That is not To say
that IL is an excellent play, but rather
that il is one which affords opportun'
lity for excellent acting. The natural
has been largely sacrihcedeto the ne
cessities OF theatrical effect and the
logic with which the theme Is deVel'
oped is the logic Of the stage rather
than that of prosaiC world. It's lines
are carefully written, cracking win
wit at times. rolling into sonorous
defamation at others. But withal, II
is "A play first and last, rather than
cross section OF real life.
Il is a play To be remembered Tor
Tho brilliancy of its Workmanship
rather than for its conception Under
the circumstances OF the story, MI
Renew cannot be too highly com
mended for his avoidance of the temp
Itations 10 rant. which occasionally
nroye 100 much for some other mem
hers NJ the caste. Throughout, MS
methods are quiet and reserved ana
he has graced the principal character
with dignity and nobility OF manner
which are most appealing.
The theme is one of sacrihce. Ed
ward Thursheld. a constructing en-
Ieineer whose hte-work has been the
building OF great bridges In far-on
lands for a great English enslneerihs
firm. is the role assumed oy hyIIe
Rallew In his creation OF the charac-
tar ne has given this modern soldler
NJ civilization the manners OF an OA-
ford man and that familiarity win the
nicer amenities OF fashionable Ire
which one had not heretofore assocl-
: ated with the drudgery OF engineering
lin the wild places OF earth. one Is
. forced Ia the reflection mat TINS
d .hridge-building firm must have had Il
: force of unusually energetic and pun
II voiced foremen TO carry out the VIII
r ~ this soft.toned chief IN handling
j rough labor. -
r Arnold Faringay. a younger man III
q tho employ OF the same firm, has oeeh
K shared into losing three thousahu
q mounds by stock spectators. rms Is
very wicked OF the stock spectators
{ and very embarrassing for Farinsay
s lie steals from the firms FUNDS 10
n save himself for the moment, ana theh
9 confesses to his sister. The shortage
p. has been charged 10 one OF Thurs
5 fields bridges. and Dorothy Faringay
d who Is already engaged, sets out 10
s. win the veteran engineers love so
n that he will pass favorably on the
= forged vouchers.
E. She wins Thurshelds heart, only ia
y lose her own to him. Then the weak
brother confesses 10 Peter Holland
e the Office manager and the latter tells
p Thursheld OF the theft Rather than
e see young Faringay go 10 jail. and
II believing his sister innocent OF any
~ knowledge OF the theft, Thursfeld as
II sumes the shortage out OF his OWN
" meager funds.
Dorothy Faringay's priggish fance
:, is called upon by her to secure three
= thousand pounds in some way so that
y Thursfeld may be paid. but he re
fuses Then the young woman dis
!! misses him and accepts the builder ot
bridges But. as all seems 10 DE
going well. the discarded lover re
turns. tells the whole story 10 Thurs
field and the latter bitterly arraigns
y young Faringay and breaks his new
| engagement and his own heart. in tho
| belief that the love which Dorothy
o Faringay has confessed for him is q
sham also.
I'm the end. the woman woes him
back and all ends as things do and
must uDon the stage. The series OF
dramatic climaxes calls for strona
emotional acting upon the part OF
Kyrle Bclew as Thursheld Gladys
Hanson As Dorothy Faringav and Flu
gene OBrien as Arnold Faringay, and
these demands are wei. met.
II IS in the drawing OF some OF the
minor characters that the author has
been most natural, however. Sin
Henry Killick. head OF the engineer
ing firm and a man who believes that
the worlds work must be done by
bachelors Is a unique creation Peter
HOLLAND, sentimental despite the dis
appointments OF life which has giver
him no true romance. is another char
acter worth creating The scene
whore Sir Henry Killick learning o.
Thursfeld's broken engagement, glec
fuzzy slaps his two disconsoiate sub
IN ordinates on the shoulder and pro
n claims Now we are three jolly ole
bachelors" is a rare one. in its mix
ture Of humor and pathos
In Mrs Thomas Whiffen is admirable
~ and quantity happy In the role Of {
10 whistmad widow, aunt OF the Farm
gays The lines of cynical, brigh
philosophy which she has are among
81 the best things in the play. Ernes
is Stallard az Peter Holland and Dewitt
g. c. Jennings as Sir Henry Killicl
n achieve the full limits OF their yer,
In satisfactory parts.
= The engagement is for one weel;
r. with the usual matinees.
1t MILTON r. PALMER.
-
GARRlCK.
=. There Is always once in a season
at least that every theater goini
d woman in town has the Opportunit!
~ 10 have a good cry over the minis
tribulatlons OF fayoritc actress, am
the fearful treat Is now at hand will
"a Miss Viola Alien In The White Sis
10 Ia