The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-04-18
DETROIT OPERA HOUSE.

Its awful when an arc nght iooAS
like the sun and a bit of calico rustles
like silk"
This Is one OF the striking lines In
~The Country Boy" Edgar selwyns
new comedy, which was given Its nrst
local presentation In the Detroit
opera house, Monday night, opening
a weeks engagement The verdict OF
the large opening night audiences was
favorable.
In the sentence quoted Is found the
keynote of the piece, which deals with
, the establishment OF an impetuous'
irresponsible country youth who Tor
sakes his native environment with the
conceited idea that destiny has fitted
him for great things In the big world
outside, only 10 fall a victim to the
superficial charms OF a cheap chorus
riri. who uses him merely as toy
until 'live one" comes along.
There are many striking lines In
"The Country Boy" and they eman-
ate largely from one character, that OF
Fred Merkle, a seasoned newspaper
man grown sour on the world from
numerous disappointments and
touch of rheumatism. The portrayal
OF this character by Robert McWade,
Jr.. who was the original managing
editor In "The Fourth Estate" Is virile
and convincing and his work Is really
one Of the chief factors in the success
of the play A perpetual crouch and
a pessimist OF the most pronounced
type, In the opinion OF his associates
In HIS boarding house, he proves him.
self man OF real human sympathies
and sensibilities In the end and his
kindly interference Is the salvation OF
the country boy.
Out of q Job, his money gone, OF
dered out of his room, because ne can |
no longer pay the rent, turned down
by his chorus lady" who also tak~s |
occasion to rub IL in" and CONFRONT
ed by the news that his old sweet
heart at home Is engaged TO marry
another, the boy, Tom Wilson, Is pre-
paring to end all his earthly troubles
by the gas route when Merkle, diyin-
ing his purposes, comes on the scene
from an adjoining room on the pre-
text that he can't sleep. He taxes
the boy in hand, talks to him like
father and finally persuades the LAD
70 go back home and start all over
again. Merkle promises to go along,
too. and they plan to start a newspa-
uer I'm the town. They interest joe
Weinstein, a theater ticket specula-
TOR. who has just made killing at
roulette. and the winnings provide
the necessary capital How Tom re-
raina the esteem OF Hiram Balknap,
the village plutocrat, wins back the
love of the latter's daughter, Jane,
and incidentally, makes good with MS
newspaper enterprise, Is interesting
Iy told In the fourth and final act ot
the drama.
Forrest Winants conception Of the
Eighty and irresponsible country boy
A remarkably true to life. The Joe
Weinstein of Arthur Shaw Ia q strik-
ing bit of character work and, next to
MT. McWade's excellent portrayal,
the best thing In the play. Mrs. Stuart |
Robson, as the proprietress or the
boarding house, gives a typical I'm
personation and brings many hearty |
laugh. From the humorous stand |
point. the big scream Of the piece Is
the diningroom scene In the second |
Act. which will appeal TO every one
who has ever been compelled by ao- ,
verse fate to live in such place.
Edith Lyle, as Jane Belknap, 10
well cast and the same II true OF q.
q. Staley, as Hiram Belknap, and
Miss Ida Glenn, as Mrs. Wilson,
Toms devoted mother. Others In
the cast are: Willette Kershaw, as
Amy Leroy, the show girl; Stanley
Wood. as a man about town; JACK
Horwitz, as Herman Leitz, the star
boarder: Walter Allen. as Phelps, a
travelling salesman; Kate Donnelly,
as Mrs. Phelps; Carolyn Eberts, as
Miss Dunstan, an embryo prima CON
ma; Geraldine O'Brien, az Lucy,
colored waitress, and George II. Wen
der, as Hezekiah jerks, secretary
TO old man Kelknap.