The Detroit times., 1911-01-10

been thorough and extending over
many. many years, In every by-path
OF the actors art, Mr.. Blinn brings
10 his assumption OF stellar garments
ripe experience, native talent develop
ed and polished to the highest degree,
and intellectual powers that stamp
him as a man who thinks as well as
acts. Mr. Blinn has an especial gift
for character work. as many notable
things he has offered the public in the
past, testify. and, in the role OF
Michael r. Regan, the boss OF the
fort ward" he has the best opportun-
ity OF his career. Mr.. Sheldon had
Mr.. Blinn in mind when he wrote
The Boss" and II must be said no
playwright could ask better fulfill
ment OF his own choice.
Michael Regan Is supposed TO be
one OF the wealthiest and most poll
tically powerful men in a lake port
town-take your choice, of Detroit,
Cleveland or Buffalo-and the undis.
puted boss of the river OF lake front.
He is particularly powerful in "th'
fort ward" which borders the hor-
Dor where his grain elevators are
situated. He il an illiterate Irish
man Of picturesquely profane speech
and a will OF iron. He Is what he
himself might characterize as a
tough mutt" He accidentally meets
Emily Griswold, daughter OF his big
gest business rival and a member OF
one OF the Oldest and most aristo-
cratic families in the city. Emily Is
interested in social settlement work
and in that way comes across Shin
dy Mike" as he Is known on the
docks. Mike makes up his mind to
marry Miss Griswold. and In his
usual bulldog way OF recognizing no
obstacles, proceeds to that end. in
his own fashion.
II comes to the point where he has
Emily's father and brother in the
financial corner where he wants them
and to save the proud standing OF
the Griswold business honor and the
poor little homes Of the thrifty folk
in the fort ward, which would be
swept away in the failure OF the
trust company and two banks which
would inevitably close their doors
following Mr.. Griswold's failure, En-
lily consents to pay the price with
herself She and Regan come to a
bargain whereby she becomes Mrs.
Michael r.. but nothing else, and the
three Of the four acts of the play are
concerned with the story of their life
together following the ceremony
Through this marriage Emily Is
estranged from her father and broth
er which, although IL was done to
save them. they bitterly oppose, and
brother Don sets himself TO down
the boss" IL he can. Mr.. Sheldon,
previous to the opening of his play,
had said that the play was not a
treatment of the labor or the politi-
cal problems of the day, that they
were merely incidental TO the story
of the love of a man for woman
and he gave a true outline of what
THE Boss" proved to be.
The casual auditor will probably
question the physical frailness Of
Miss Emily Stevens as suited to the
role of Emily Griswold, but as Mr..
Sheldon is credited with having
selected her for the role he probably
knew the type of woman he was en-
deavoring to present Miss Stevens
is just the type, in appearance and
manner, that one might expect man
like Regan to love. She Is what he
himself describes "A little lady every
inch OF her" Miss Stevens is an at
tractive young actress with a charm
and magnetism all her own, and she
was perfectly successful in present
ing Emily's character.
The others in the cast, notably
Howard Estabrook as Don; III. A. La
Motte as "pOrky' McCOy Mikes