The Detroit times., 1911-03-17
THE STAGE
pETRoIT OPERA HOUSE.


Somerset Vaughan comedy Smith,
which was made known for the frst
time In this city, Thursday evening,
in the Detroit opera house. IL Is gooo
10 know that "lnconstant George
and Mr.. Drew have parted company
Tom Freeman is a much more Ike
able and eminently respectable person
than the gay aud philandering french
man OF last season. The usual large
and smart audience greeted Mr.. Drew
who II as great 8 favorite In Detroit
as In every other city of the country
The new comedy has more than
Just a John Drew interest for local
theater goers, inasmuch as the name
part, Smith, is enacted by Miss MARY
Boland, a Detroit girl. Miss Boland
Is improving every season OF her the
atrical career. She Is an extremely
good-looking and attractive young
woman and possesses acting talent
OF the genuine sort. She has quite
outgrown the amateurishness when
marked her first season as "A leading
woman, in "Strongheart,' with Robert
Edeson As Smith, perfect jewel OF
a housemaid in the fashionable kens-
ipgton menage OF the Honorable Mrs
Dallas. Baker, Miss Boland is doing
the best work OF hef stage opportun'
tiles. Incidentally, Smiths perfec-
lions in service should be an OBJ
ject lesson To every mistress and maid
who goes to the theater TO see that
quiet. capable, deft and amiable
young person.
Tom Freeman is an Englishman
who returns TO London 10 visit his
sister, a fashionable hostess, after
several years absence, roughing il in
South Africa. He finds Sister Rose
much bored young woman, whose
whole existence is wrapped up in
bridge playing and dawding at after
noon teas Her friends are of the
same ilk. Roses husband is COM
placent elderly person who provides a
liberal bank account and jumps when
Rose pulls the string.
A sapheaded youth called Algernon,
who describes himself as that useful
social object "a poodle dog or q
tame cat" hangs around Rose with
constancy that irTitates Brother Tom
TO the point OF wanting 10 apply the
toe of his boot TO Algy. Toms lone
illness on his South African farm and
his conviction that he ought TO have
wife and children about him was one
OF the real reasons that sent him
home 10 look for a helpmate. He fails
to find anything in petticoats that
bears the faintest relation OF his ideal
OF what a pure, truthful, faithful and
Industrious woman should be except
Smith, the parlor maid. The truth Is
gradually brought home 10 him that
Smith is a pearl without price and
he determines to marry her. Toms
wooing OF the practical and pretty
who knows her place"
and keeps him In his, provides a very
line of comedy for Mr.. Drew
and a three-hours' enjoyment TO the
audience.
The play is light and at no time
goes much below the surface, but IL Is
entertaining as acted by
Mr.. Drew, Miss Boland and most
capable company. Its dialogue is cpl
grammatic and brilliant and with
hose clever twists of satire that Mr..
Vaughan knows so well how to en-
ploy.
The characters In the comedy are
acted. Miss Isabel Irving
plays Rose and Morten Selten Dallas
Baker. Hazard Short made great
ieal OF the social parasite, Algy; Miss
5ybil Thorndyke and Miss Jane
laurel gave an excellent account OF
themselves as Roses fashionable
friends, and Lewis Casson contributed
! clever character bit as Fletcher, the
porter, with a proposal every other I
minute for Smith. All of these men {
Ind women have plenty OF opportunity |
or taking the center OF the stage. and !
hey are quite equal TO II.
The engagement Is for the rest OF
he week with a Saturday matinee
ELLA MAE HAWTHORNE, 7
Singers Serenaders will come to ,
the Gayety theater Sunday afternoon
Tor weeks engagement. The Ser :
enaders will present two new extray- .
aganzas, called "On the Ocean" and
Cafe de Paris" They are said 10
be equipped with elaborate scenic,
and electric effects. The
first act or ION the Ocean" shows the
deck OF a steamship, and the second
act reproduces the ballroom OF the
Plaza hotel, New York. The prin.
cipals in both casts are among the
best known people in burlesque. Miss
Nanette Coulton and Lew Kelly plays
the principal roles, and the company
includes Will n. Stevens. Mullen and
Coogan, Ben Turbett, Margaret King,
Grace yinton and Dot Duyall.
Vesta Victoria, the English singing
comediennc, who comes TO the De-
troit opera house, Monday, for a
weeks engagement at the head or
her own company OF vaudevillians,
carries q portable dressing room Tor
all her stage work. Her songs are /
all done" in character and require
constant changes OF costume and
makeup. Miss Victorias dressing
room is erected close 10 the wings
on the stage and two dressers are
kept on the jump. dressing and un-
dressing the Coincidence as she makes
rapid changes for each song. Miss
Victoria Is surrounded by a company
of particularly clever people
The libretto OF The Chocolate
Soldier" that delightfully."- melodious
operetta which comes TO the Garrick
theater. Monday evening, for a fort.
nights stay, Ii founded on George
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