The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-02-08
THE STAGE
DETROIT OPERA HOUSE.

Those opening night patrons OF the
f, Detroit opera house, who remained
away from the playhouse Monday
evening because OF the weather con-
ditions, missed something that was
worth suffering even little physical
discomfor. 10 see Those Who did ut
tend apparently felt well repaid, ior
not this season has there been an
f, Offering in the way of straight drama
that has quite equaled The Lily,
as David Belascc has christened his
adaptation from the French OF Pierre
Wolff and CASTOR LerouX. Al is
gripping, human play, admirably pre-
scented, and sumptuously STAGED. Inc
fact that the action all takes place
in France, principally in the home oi
an old French count, does not detract
from an American audiences appre'
citation in any way, for human ma
| ture is about the same everywhere
and recognizes no boundaries.
THE Lily" is a domestic drama
The story covers period oil SIX
months, but the greater part OF IL re-
lates TO the incidents of a single day,
! the last three acts all being laio III
living room of the Comte de Malgny
II
country home.
The count. a widower, is a gay
old boy" away from home. lie has
| frittered away his fortune In last Nv
| ing and in entertaining fast women.
Back among his children, in his own
domicile, he is propriety itself. how
ever, and rules his household with
an iron hand. His two daughters,
Odette. aged 80, and Christiane, aged
25. have been brought up almost as
prisoners. They are not allowed TO
have beauxs and the old count has
persuaded himself into believing that
they are perfectly happy and con-
tented,
Adjoining the de Maigny estate is an
old park containing a tumble-down
castle, once owned by the monks. To
this place comes Georges Arnaud, VINO
is just springing into fame as an
artist, and here he decides TO make
his country home. In her rambies
Christiane, naturally enough, makes
the acquaintance of the artist and
falls in love with him. Her affection
is reciprocated, but the artist unfor-
tunately is married TO a woman who
will neither live with him nor divorce
him.
Christiane, unknown to her father.
continues 10 meet the artist and the
neighbors, knowing that Arnaud is a
married man. naturally begin TO gos-
sip. The story finally reaches the
proportions of scandal. IL comes
10 the ears of Emile Plock, wealthy
cotton merchant, three days before
his daughter, Lucie, is to be married
to the counts only son, Maximilien.
Because OF Ii, Plock breaks on the
match, and when the real reason Is
forced from him by his son, there is
the very deuce to pay in the counts
household.
In a remarkably strong scene, Chris
tiane Is forced to confess first that
she has been meeting Arnaud and
finally, after being goaded and tor.
tured in a manner suggestive or the
methods employed by the
police. acknowledges that she mas
been indiscreet.
The her whole soul rebels against
the injustice of 1t all. Like an enrag-
ed tigress, smarting under the lash
of its keeper, she turns upon her ia
Their and denounces him for his sell
claims her love for Arnaud and glor-
les in her independence. Forgetting
that she is no longer a child. the
count would chastise he, but here
the elder sister, Odette, who has stood
placidly by during the irving scene,
takes hand in the affair. She has
borne her Imprisonment with fcrti-
tude all these years, taking her moth
er's place in the household. She has
seen another girl marry the man
whcse home she should have graced,
but whom she could not wed, because
her father objected. Thus she has
become an "old maid" while her beau |
ty faded and she pretended to be
happy. But the old count is disil-
at last. She upholds her sis |
ter and defies her father to interfere |
with Christiane's happiness as he had
with her own. The old count is left |
speechless as the curtain descends.
When the performance ends things |
are shaping themselves for a marriage |
ultimately between Arnaud and Chris |
tiane. The count has betaKen himself |
to Paris, to forget, and the girls are |
In peaceful possession OF the house
hold.
The great scene in the third act
gives opportunity for some remark
able acting on the part Of Miss Nance |
O'Neil, as Odette, and Miss Julia Dean |
as Christiane, and they just about !
divide honors. The emotional de-
mands are heavy on both, but they |
are fully equal to the occasion. Moth |
ing could be better done. Charles |
Cartwright is the count and he PLAYS |
the part with full realization Of it's |
requirements. II is a finished, artis- |
tic bit of character work. Oscar |
Eagle, as Husar, a friend Of the lam
lily, whose sympathy and good coun- |
sci are given when needed and whose |
presence acts as a sort OF conciliatcry |
influence, render capital service. The |
Arnaud of Elliott Dexter is dignified
at all times. Alfred Hickman, as the
son, Max, is capable.
The engagement Is for three nights.
GARRicK.
sTha Enaouptar n plav that lo