The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-08-01

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tention 10 little details In this regard
increases the interest and the effec-
tiveness OF the play.
| Portia Perkins. the rose played by
Miss Bonstelle. is that or practical
and thoroughly capable young bust
ness woman, with two young daugh'
tiers. whom she supports by running
country newspaper and job printing
plant. Portia and Lucille and little
Mary Jane, were getting along fairly
well when Portia got inso a political
tight and started to make the Clarion
run old Joel Skinner out OF the com
munity instead OF into congress as
hankered by Joel.
The Clarlon's editor threw all the In.
fiuence Of her paper toward Rome
Preston. the opposing candidate
Rome had been friend and admirer
OF plucky Portia ever since she came
10 the town and would have married
her any old time she said yes" The
children had a father, however who
was still alive for all Portis knew TO
the contrary. so she turned deaf car
TO Rome.
4 ~ lib nln6O " tHO BdulG VIII
SHOULD come a'ong nut ne recreant
Hiram Perkins. In the flesh. No one
know him In Gospor;. SO Portia tells
Inn that while her anger a11 TestEt.
ment OF his desertion years before had
not passed from her she could not
turn him adrift bs-,usc he was the
chisfI ems father. 30 she agrees 10
take him into he; houPa rs the hired
hep" II he aill agree 10 keep his
ider tity secret. Hiram hal 4 ma.
tura talent for coo ms. just as he
mad for quoting poetry. so lie Rms zee
PC:ktns kitchen with sa:h excellent
gasi,nnomic and os,Lomic results thar
the Perkinses be :aEi, the talk Of the
town. Old man 5kinror VAS shrewd
enough TO turn this 10 his own &C.
coun. and the npshot OF Il was th"t.
folit wing Portals expose Of his cIopk-
ed dealings with widows and orphans.
In The Clarion. nc turned the town
alsiLst her by spreading stories ce-
:ainjhg her reputation because o..
Naha"s-whi:h Eama Hiram adopted
-r;tsence In her house.
interviewer In the three acts are a
number OF incidents and characters,
homely and simple In themselves, but
because they ring true TO everyone
who has ever known. even In a slight
degree, the life OF small town, they
command attention and provoke q
hearty laugh or asigh and a tear. The
second act takes place in Portals
printing Office and Is well-worked out
TO a climax that shows both Portia
and Nabal setting type and getting
out the paper, showing up old man
Skinner the printing being done by
means Of an old hand-press. OF course,
In the end, matters are Strengthened
out and the audience Is allowed to de-
part secure In, the knowledge that
Mary James Pa" Is to stay on. not
as cook. but as husband. and father
and provider.
Miss Bonstelle plays Portia with
her accustomed surety of touch and
wins admiration and applause for the
plucky little woman who is Mary
James ma" Mary Jane herself IL
an important part Of thep lay and In
the person OF Rhea Robinson, she is
a dear little girl. natural, clever and
without the usual distressing ear
marks OF the average stage child. She
acted veryA prettily and won lots of
hearts.
Charles Balsar was the irresponsible
father and husband but lovable dream
er, Hiram Perkins, alias Nabal, the
hired girl" He made the audience
feel that he was really a very good
sort OF chap at bottom and even his
acceptance OF the position OF cook,
was made to seem not wholly fiction
OF the playwright's fancy.
William Sans. gave an admirable
study OF old man Skinner and as In
his work last week. as the British
legation attache, shows the result OF
study and accomplishment almost in
yariably part Of the English actor or
any standing In his profession. Mr..
Sans was well known on the London
stage before he came to America.
All Of the roles were excellently
taken and as they were all what is
known In stage parlance as "charac-
ter" roles. there was no small amount
OF ability displayed. Miss Alice Dom
ovan gave good account of herself
as Ivy Wilcox. who lived right next
door TO the Perkinses and was the
town elocutionist. Eleanor Carey was
the aggressive and amusing town mill
liner, Miss Faxon. Winifred Kingston
played Lucille with charm and youth
ful impetuousness Hugh Diilnan, as
the handsome young actor gent" who
won Lucille's heart. played with the
spirit and dash ep uts into all his
work. Cyril Raymond was excellent
as Star Skinner, the towns one best
bet as beau" but, unfortunately. the
son Of old man Skinner.
Mr.. Granville was the manly Rome
Preston; Bertram Harrison, the
Champion" loafer and tongue-wag-
ger: Carey Livingstone, Portals faith
full printer, and William Pringle. the
town hackman. Wild wore fur over
coat all one summer just because a
travelling ma nsaid he could have the
use OF II for Its keep and Link lowed
he never would get another chance at a
fur overcoat. The part of the printers
devil" In the Clarion ONCE, was taken
by Harry Richards, of Detroit. The
young man In private life IL Harry r.
Macfarlane. q son OF Mr.. and Mrs.
Maurice Macfarlane. He had never
been on the stage and his
appearance Is the serious outcome OF
what started In joke. He did not act
a novice and got enough hands" to
make an old-timer envious.
Mary James Pa" will be played
all week with matinees on Tuesday,
Thursday and Saturday. Miss Bons-