The Detroit times., 1911-11-24
THE STAGE
pE1aolI OPERA HOUSE.

NJ Thursday night, In MS latest VI VI
sentiment and song. "Macushla. His
reception was fiattering one, despite
the fact that the patience of a capac'
IT'S audience was sorely tried over a
long delay in opening, due to mis-
take In train connections in Chicago,
So great was the ardor with when
MIR. Olcott and his players were re-
ceiyed that at the conclusion OF the
second act, the star was forced 10
respond to the applause with speech
of thanks. delivered I'm his usually
gracious manner. Even then, the audi
ence was loath 10 let him go, and,
! finally. he was Obliged 10 step before
the curtain again and sing few OF
the old Irish songs that brought him
fame and fortune.
"Macushla" is one OF the best We
hicles in the long line OF successes
that Mr.. Olcott has had. IL IL pure
melodrama at times. but in these days
when the province of that time non
ored branch OF theatrical endeayoi mas
been usurped BY the moving picture
dramas, II warns our hearts to see
real flesh and blood heroes thwarting
the Machiavellian designs OF desplc-
able Villains. After all, IL is only
human nature to rejoice in the tri-
umph of virtue over villainy, so small
wonder Il was that Thursday nights
audience looked upon the stage hap
penings as set before IL as quite real,
and cheered the hero and his heroine
Ia very charming colleen she U.s. TOO
the while they roundly Kissed the
villain and his cohorts.
Rida Johnson Young is the author
OF "Macushla," and good job she mas
made OF IL, too, investing II with sew
eraI quaint characters, such as would
abound I'm Ireland In the early part
OF the nineteenth century, and put
ting into their mouths the unique Gel
tic humor of the time. The play mas
to do with the fortunes OF Sir Brian
Fitzgerald, who has fallen into an es-
tate. encountered by ancient debts.
Finding his efforts TO free his lands
from creditors in vain, he stakes all
ON his valued mare, Macushla,
8 which he enters in the big steeple-
chase. betting everything he can beg
and borrow upon her prowess-
Efforts Of a designing neigh0or 10
4 bribe the stable boy to dope the horse.
and. later, when that unsportsmanlike
attempt is foiled, 10 bride the jockey
into throwing the race, form the basis
of a number OF incidents that are ex-
citing enough, dear knows, and we are
KEYED TO quite a pitch. when Sir Brian
himself, in the capacious person OF
Mr.. OIcott. mounts the horse and
rides her to victory. Throughout II
All there runs a charming love story
and the action Is interpreted with
what Olcott play would be complete
without them?-all OF them tuneful
and full OF pretty Irish sentiment
Augustus Pitou has mounted the
piece with his usual fidelity to detail
and the result is series OF charming
stage pictures, enhanced by the bright
coloring of the costumes. The com
pany is an excellent one, Robert v.
Ferguson, as a penurious Scott, and
Jennie Lamont, in the role of the Old
Irish WILDLY" excelling. They are
two welldrawn characterizations.
Charles WELLESLEY also should be
commended for the able and Thought
full manner in which he handles the
thankless part of Warren Fairchild.
the designing neighbor. His work
stamps him as a careful and con-
scientious actor. Gail Kane 10 alto
gether charming and pretty in face
and manner as the heroine Patricia
Boyer. Other parts incidental TO the
play are well cared for by E. II. Rear
don, George Brennan, F. Gatenby
Dell, Edmund Shalet, Katherine Clar-
endon and Alice Farrell.
The engagement continues Friday
and Saturday nights, with Saturday
matinee.
Hermann Lieb and a carefully Sc
lected company in the Joseph Medill
Patterson playet, Dope" will head
next weeks bill in the Miles theater.
Mr.. Lieb played TO crowded houses
when he first presented Dope In
the Miles last January, and both play
let and player have been growing in
popularity constantly. Although II
has a moral. dope" does not preach,
but drives it's points home in con-
vincing and interestcompelling man
ner Mr.. Lieb is a character actor or
recognized ability and his work as
Doe" Kalthoff, a druggist of the New
York slum district. has won him much
praise. As a special attraction, the
Miles will offer next week, for the
first time on any stage, new living
picture act. Models de Luxe" which
is Detroit product in every sense
of the word. II is owned and con.
trolled by George Craig and Abe
Davis. local theatrical workers, and
from a scenic and an artistic stand.
point is worth while.
The Two Janitors" and The High
Life Girls at Beulah Beach are the
titles Of two musical travesties The
Ducklings" will present in the Ave-
nue. theater next week. The COM
pany, which boasts OF a fine assert.
ment or "broilers.' will have several
novelties to offer not the least OF
which will be Margie Bennett and her
picks" in The Eage Rock dance
The Young Bros. will contribute
comedy acrobatic act. Among the
entertainers with THE Duckings"
are Tony Kennedy Charles Boyle
Madge Hughes, May Silken and
Charles Lester.
let George Do It." is the title OF
. new musical comedy TO visit the
Lyceum theater, Dec. 3, with George
p Murphy in the leading role. De-
spite Georges Irish name. he is a
German comedian, and plays the
George of fsie niece i'm a tangle-tonRue