The Detroit times., 1911-10-31
THE STAGE
eARRIck.


A poetic and beautiful play is The
Piper" which was given it's hrst
presentation IN Detroit. Monday
evening. I'm the Garrick theater, with
Aisss Edith Wynne Mathison. in the
nii,nc part A large audience gave IL
lie tribute OF earnest and apprecia'
Ave attention.
The play was written by an Am
nrican woman. Josephine Preston
peabody. and was selected for pres
tatation In Stratford-on-Avon. on the
ofcnsion OF a Shakespeare memorial
..tinmemoration. In is founded on the
aacicnt legend of the Pied Piper oil
Hamelin, and Mrs Peabody has eyolv.
"a a very beautiful and touching
story and poetic drama from the
material at hand The play was pre-
sented for the first time In America
hi the New Theater. New ork, and
Miss Mathison was chosen for the
part OF the Piper,
In selecting this fine English ac-
fress, whom America has or recent
yecrs retained for her own, better
choice could not have been made.
Miss Mathison is a wonderfully in
teIligent and sympathetic player, has
mastered every little twist and turn
OF her art, is without mannerisms OF
any kind and has the most mellow
and beautifully atturned speaking
voice on the stage today When last
on the Garrick stage, Miss Mathison
wore the robes of Sister Beatrice,
In the Materlinck play of that name,
which was given by the New Theater
- s.I, Ma9h o.
a member. on the visit of that organ
ization to this city, in une, 1910. Miss
Mathison's first appearance in Detroit
was over decade ago when she has
the name part in the old English
morality play 'Everyman." For long
fimo she was one Of the Ben Greet
PLAYERS and, perhaps, played every
one OF Shakespeare women. She is
especially suited and gifted for the
drama of the poets, and the poetic
drama, and her work in The Piper"
Is an exquisite and lofty conception
and Interpretation.
The play is charmingly staged and
acted by a company of players of I'M
usual merit. The children are talent
ed and well-trained. The stage is
filed with them, for does not the Pip
er lure them all away from Hamelin
A picture, not soon to be forgotten.
is made at the end of the first act
when the Piper stands alone IN the
midst of the market place in Hame-
lin. his only companion, the Lonely
Man, in his statue niche outside the
church door, the Piper bitterly re-
senting the miserliness and selfish
ness OF the burghers who broke their
cath in the bargain to pay for the
piping of the rats away. In poise and
expression, Miss Mathison made a
beautiful picture, and then, as the
iper's mind evolved the thought OF
piping the children away. and began
20 play the pipe and the little ones
appeared one after another dancing
10 the tune, a more charmingly
poetic scene could not be imagined
OF the supporting company. Miss
Olive Oliver did some excellent work
AS Veronica, the mother of the child,
Jan; William aymond, as Michael,
the Sword-Eater. and Albert Eeasdale,
as Cheatthe-Devii.
The Piper" is one of that small
lass of rlays which saves the Am
crican stage from the commences
o. musical comedy, the inanity OF
iarce and the piffle OF the society
drama. l; is ennobling, intellectual
and artistic in the highest degree.
The play will remain at the Gar
rick all week, with matinees on Wed
nesday and Saturday.
ELLA MAE HAWTHORNE.