The Detroit times., 1911-12-08
THE STAGE
oARRIck.

L
ed program OF the musical show, The
Henpecks," which opened three
days engagement In the Garrck,
Thursday evening. the name OF Lew
Fields could not be found that we'll
known star HIMSELF. was the cen
Ter OF three hours OF the liveliest pro-
ceedings this particular stage has
known this season. Mr.. Fields will
have TO take IL out on the printer
that some other name. was placed I'm
the niche properly belonging TO him-
self. and also that other members or
the east, according TO the program,
found themselves playing parts that
did not belong 10 them. MIR. Fields is
an infrequent visitor to Detroit so
there was a large portion of the house
/ ful OF people doubtful OF his identity
but TO those who have been on laugh.
ing terms with this comic in years
past there was no mistaking the
Fields personality and the Fields drol-
| lery.
The Henpecks" employs one of
the largest companies on the road,
and the rather small stage OF the Gar
rick had ali IL could do TO accommo-
date the elaborate scenery and the
bevy of sprightly dancing girls and
chorus men. The stage settings are
numerous and massive, and real
glimpse behind the scenes was afford
ed the audience in the presence OF
stage hands, electricians and property
men busily attending TO their duties
In full view of the interested specta-
tors. while the performers endeavored
! TO go ahead with the proceedings as
| unconcernedly as trained self-posses.
sion would permit Not that anyone
resented the little mishaps incidental
/ TO first nights staging of so big a
show as The Henpecks," for on the
! contrary, II added TO the interest for
the majority, and Mr.. Fields was
given the encouragement of loud APP
plause when he cleverly covered up
the hurried ringing down of a curtain
| in the midst of scene which threat
ened to put him of his farm, whether
he would or no.
The curtain rises on as bucolic a
setting as one could wish and which
goes "Chanticler" several times bet
ter in its barnyard realism. The
scene is that of the farm garden with
the kitchen of the house close by and
/
preening hens, cackling geese. baa ing
sheep, barking dogs and a lazy cat
that meows just at the right time.
The barnyard inhabitants are sup
posed 10 be just waking up with the
dawn o; day and such racket of stir
ring life one never heard except on
the old home farm The scene is a
very pretty one and extremely we'll
done.
| Presently the proceedings shift to
New York. and after sojourn in
Times-sq" move TO the courtyard OF
a big apartment hotel, which an en-
terprising real estate promoter has
erected on one corner OF the old farm.
The reproduction of Times-sq. is alb
solutely accurate. and the we'll known
theaters, cafes and other buildings as
ISOLATED with that particular part OF
Broadway are faithfully depicted
Mr.. Fields has surrounded himself
with a large and active company OF
principals, supplemented by one OF
the snappiest chorus contingents a
musical show could possibly offer An
orchestra leader who believes in keep
ing mp the fastest kind OF a pace
sends the show along with an almost
breathless celebrity.
Elizabeth Brice and Charles King
two young people who have won a
large following in Detroit through fire.
quent visits with other musical shows
| and TO the Temple vaudeville stage
: were received with marked enthusi
/, asm. Their singing and dancing are
! OF the best sort, and the stimulation
; OF enjoyment in their work is hap
PLY infectious. To them falls the
brunt OF the singing and they were
quite equal TO the demands, their
song I'm the Shadows" winning en-
: core after encore.
! Miss Blossom Seeley. obviously
5 was appearing under the greatest
; strain. her voice showing that she
! suffered with a severe cold. She die
her very best, however. and offered
some new stunts in eccentric dancing
Miss Louise Carver and Miss Jessie
Busley, well-known members of the
legitimate drama, had the exaggerat
, ed character roles OF Henoria Peck
: Henry Peck's eldest daughter. and
, Mrs. Peck, Henry's virago wife.
Z Such lively entertaining show is
sure TO attract amusement-seekers by
the score to the Garrick for the re.
naming three performances.
Monday evening. the Aborn English
Opera company viii open a weeks
engagement In a sDectacular ray,iyoI