The Detroit times., 1911-06-06
THE STAGE
DETROIT OPERA HOUSE.

The all-star Friars frolicked before
record-breaking crowd in the Detroit
opera house, Monday night. Perhaps
when such wellknown and far-fameu
names as William Collier, Raymond
Hitchcock, Sam H. Harris, George M.
| Conan, Emmit Corrigan, Fred Niblo,
ct al. are heraldeG n the advance
notices ones expectations are pinned
! too high. for as bones" and "tambo
! these acknowledged stars do not scin-
| tIIfate with their wonted brfiliancy
In other words, we are entirely will
| ing 10 let Willie Collier continue In
| farce-comedy, Hitchcock in musical
comedy, Corrigan In the drama ana
Geo. M. Cohan will please us best as
! the play--or song-a-minute man-put
they should never, no never permit
| themselves to imagine that they are
destined to wear the mantle or HAPPY
Cal Wagner, Charley Backus or Billy
Rice with becoming grace and credit
From the standpoint OF an attractive
stage setting, the Friars' first part
was a most pleasing picture; the al
ways-popular and pleasing ballad, Sill
YER Threads Among the Gold was
most effectively sung by FRANK
Coombs. while John ]. Weston, John
King and George NJ. Cohan gave num-
bers that were most pleasing.
| Honey Boy Evans-always clever
and a fayorite with Detroit audiences
--opened the olio with a black-face
monologue. which. aside from the US
ual threadbare sallies at the expense
of nearby towns, contained num-
Der OF refreshingly new criticisms.
What will these monologue artists DO
| for Jokes II the exigencies OF time
should force the annexation or Tren-
ton. windsor and Mt. Clemens
| George NJ. Cohan's one-act minstrel
sketch The Pullman Porter's Ball,
proyided a vehicle for one OF the most
laughable and entertaining numbers
on the program, featuring Julian FL
tinge as Derabellam Dingle. As an
impersonator OF femme roles, MI FL
tinge is without an equal In the bust
ness. He dressed the part OF Dora
bellam with a taste and elegance that
might we'll inspire the envy OF De-
troit's leaders of fashion, while In
face, form, voice and gesture he por-
trayed the eternal feminine fault
| lessly.
william Collier, as Slim wilkins;
Raymond Hitchcock as Ebeneger
Jackson and Tom Lewis as Hannah
Messermay kept the laughs gong De
tween numerous dances and ensembles
OF Cohanisque dash and brllliancy'
| Thomas Dingle, made one OF the hits
OF the evening with his eccentric
dancing.
The Friar-Piano Bugs-Robert
Daily. master OF ceremonies'-Intro-
duced seven of Americas greatest
song writer's, playing In unison on
as many pianos. This number billed
/ az 'travesty," was reallyFa distinct
Improvement over Lasky's Piano
phiends," after which II was supposed
| to be modelled.
A clever dialogue and song by
George M. Conan and William Collier
1.-Two Hot Potatoes"-was highly
4 seasoned with poignant and pithy pro-
fessional kidding.
| While the Friars were casting about
for a suitable act to close the show,
they received "The Great Suggestion"
] from Bertram Marburgh and Bennett
| Musser. The scene Is laid In the
Ffiars- eitb- gfili-feem- wheFe-"Ihe
subject" Earle Browne. and The pro
lessor" Emmit Corrigan, frame" for
the subject" TO secure an engage
ment with THE manager" Sam b.
Harris, by becoming victim TO the
power of concentrated suggestion.
This permits the subject" who Is
seeking a good part with the man
ayers. new production, to do some
impressive acting which, when all is
disclosed, lands the job"
The proceeds from this annual tour
of the Friars go toward the erection
Of new-elub b0ase I'm New York.