The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-09-15
THE STAGE



known as stars" Miss Grace Van
StuddIford has a hard time getting a
medium In which TO present hervef
for public favor and The Paradise
of Mahomet." which she brought 70
the Garrick theater. Thursday even
ing. can scarcely be considered as
other than nat and stale and 10 logical
sequence from theebox once point CT
view, Improbable. The programs des-
ignate the piece as an Opera boune
from the French OF Henri Blondeau,
with music by Robert Planquette. the
latter presumably OF tinkling Chimes
OF Normandy" fame. The press agent
told US that II had been brought IN
tact from Paris. where IL had enjoyed
great success, and that Broadway
had taken 1t TO It's critical heart Tor
quite while. too. After seeing the
piece 1t looks as though some one was
seeking membership In the Ananias
club.
Gay and good natured old Paree will
stand for a lot OF things, bus II Is q
safe bet tina. II never stood for Tine
Paradise Of Mahomet," as II was given
Thursday evening In Detroit. The
Brothers Smith, who have hand ID
so many things musical prepared foI
the American stage, are said TO nave
written the books and lyrics from The
Blondeau version. Perhaps the Amer
icanizing Is responsible TOR the sac
result
The story relates how Prince Gas
sim, OF Constantinople, falls In love
with Bengaline, the niece OF Clarisse
former Paris cafe chantan singer
now the owner OF Constantinople
cafe, and the wife OF a much hen
pecked and doddering old idiot called
Maboul. Clarisse has arranged mar
rage for her niece to a marriage brok
er, but at the wedding ceremony
Prince Cassim aided by Vaninka, o
gypsy girl in love with the broker
and Noah Vale. the American chauf
feur OF the prince, drugs the guests
and carries of Bengaline and Clar
isse. The second act shows the
princes palace and gives the title To
the piece In the fact that Bengaline
and Clarisse are made to believe that
they have passed beyond into the Ma
homet paradise. Into paradise" nat
urally enters all the other characters,
seeing It Is musical comedy.
Comedy turks under an alias and
tho humor is alleged. II the whole
show were treated frankly as bur-
lesque and played in that spirit there
are possibilities in 1t that might be
worked out to result in fairly good
entertainment. or course, the fact
that the piece had practically Its first
performance this season last night
one having been given the evening
d. svious In Toledo-may have had
much to do with the general impress.
sion Of mediocrity which got over the
footlights.
The music is reminiscent OF every
thing In the way of popular hits and
an effort Is made TO make a melody
set to the words There's Something
About You That Appeals to Me-" the
motif OF the show as Every Little
Movement, etc." In Nine. Sherry and
SINH /. instances
Miss Van Studdirord has the par,
Of Bengaline and wears some very nif
ty harem frocks. Miss Laura Burt
formerly of the late Sir Henry Irv
ing's London Lyceum company" plays
Clarisse. Florenx Kolb, as Maboul, In
makeup and character handles HE
role exactly as have been all similar
roles In musical comedy from Kine
Dodo down, John j. MCGOWAN, al
the chauffeur, actually gets a real al
OF humor, once In q while, In the lines
given him and what amusement there
is in the piece Mr.. MCGOWAN must be
given credit for creating. Edward
Mora Ia the prince, and Miss Florence
Rother an attractive and vocally
pleasing vaninka.
The two acts are elaborately staged
and the costumes quite handsome and
colorful.
THE Paradise OF Mahomet" will re
main until Saturday evening. Next
week Miss Grace George will bring &c
the Garrick new English comedy
called "Just To Get Married" which
she will present for the first half OF
the week, changing to Shakespeare
delightful comedy, Much Ado About
Nothing" Thursday evening, and fol
the rest OF the week.
ELLA MAE HAWTHORNE.
Jean Murdoch is the leading woman
with Charles Cherry's company In
The Seven Sisters" this season. She
is the beautiful young Chicago gir'
who 30 impressed Manager Daniel
Frohman with her intelligence and
poise when the company was playing
in Chicago last summer. that he en-
gagged her for the leading role OF Mici
the fourth sister. Her success was
immediate and the notices which she
has received so far this season en
tour, have more than confirmed the
accuracy OF Mr.. Frohman's judgment
Miss Murdoch Is young woman OF
unusual attractiveness. She has a
most engaging personality, an excel
lent voice, and possesses that peculiar
individual charm so essential for sue.
cess on the stage. The long list OF
important stars now before the pub