The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-07-16
THE STAGE
aARRIck.

Nfeu IN not midsummer TIC hiee
Ifoductlon OF new play has its lure,
md there was an audience OF stand
In9-room only proportions, Monday
evening. In the Garrick theater. for
the premiere of The Lady from
Oklahoma" written by Miss Eliza
beth Jordan, the editor OF Harper's
Hazaar and a well-known magazine
writer, and staged and acted by Jes-
eie Bonstelle, assisted by her capable
stock company The playwright was
among those present. sitting with
Miss Marian De Forest, OF Buffalo,
another playwright and story writer,
~ a. inconspicuous place In the
orchestra chairs. Detroit, In spite
OF being frequently chosen by drama
lists and managers ito try II on the
dog. has not yet acquired the
metropolitan habit of crying for
rauthori author" on first nights, 80
the audience was not permitted 10
make a footlight acquaintance with
Miss Jordan.
II generous applause and constant
laughter could imprint the word
"success /" on play, then THE Lady
Of Oklahoma" would be indelibly
Stamped with il. The spectators were
procigal with both and each one OF
+ the players was give nthe friendllest
encouragement and appreciation
The play was dramatiZed by Miss
Jordan from her own magazine story
Dnblished in the Atlantic Monthly
About year ago. Herbert Kelley
and Efile shannon produced II during
stock season in Atlantic City. but,
II was then in four acts and some
what differently constructed, and, In
the form in which II was made known
last night, by Miss Bonstelle, II was
almost new play as Miss Jordan
had practically rewritten II, Now, II
Is in three acts and contrary TO eX-
pectations based on its title. the ac-
ton takes place in New York city
and IL has no Western flavor, beyond
that the central figures, Senas ara
Mrs. Joel Dixon, hail from Oklahoma.
The first act is laid in the office oil
Miss Ruth Herrick. tire editor OF a
New York woman's magazine; the
second act shows the interior of
manicuring and beauty parlor." with
face massage manicuring hair dress
ing ard electric baths in full opera
ton, and the third act in the private
editorial sanctum OF Miss Herrick.
Miss Bonstelle has given the play
careful and accurate setting and as
might be expected. the beauty par
.Or" scene, provokes much laughter
and a keen interest on the part OF the
audience The men are decidedly in
teres.ed in the proceedings OF the
woman beautiful and the wome n
know that ii is all true TO life and
lust about the sort OF thing 10 be
heard. seen and looked at, in almost
any establishment of its kind. Both
playwright and producer have sue
ceeded admirably in presenting a
realistic picture.
Miss Jordan has written some very
clever dialogue. The lines are ex.
ceptionally pat, without seeming to
strain for "smartness" and there is
continuous appeal to ones sense
OF humor The "juiciest" part in the
comedy Is that OF Miss Clarice Null
holland, manager of Nina O'Reilly's
Beauty Parlors," which is played by
Misc Alice Donovan very cleverly
Miss Mulhollands observations on
life in general and her free and un.
grammatical expression OF them are
highly amusing
Miss Bonstelle, as Mrs. Harriet
Dixor, who comes TO New York from
Oklahoma, to ask personal advice
from Miss Herrick on how TO lay
siege to her husbands heart, which
she feels Is slipping away from her
since he went TO Washington as SEN
ator, bring all her well-known ability
and experience to presenting a por-
trait that Is very human picture.
There is so much good material in
the comedy that the weak spots are
X quickly forgotten, ii. they are noticed
at ali by other than the critical eye.
These lapses were undoubtedly recog-
nized by the playwright herself as
4 she watched her work from the or
chestra chair and will be quickly
remedied 1t will mean pruning here
and there and the substitution of new
word and action to better explain
certain incidents in order TO carry
greater conviction and TO provide
continuity.
The members of the company were
on their mettle and their work was
uniformly good. II was an achieve
ment worth while for all concerned,
In view OF the fact that the play has
been rehearsed while the stock com
peny has been playing every night !
IN the week and three matinees, with
"a Change Vi play every week.
The regular company was augment
ed BY several Detroit people, includ-
ing Mrs Nellie Peck Saunders and
Mrs. Macfarlane Tough. The cast fol-
lows: Miss Ruth Herrick. Emily Fitz-
roy; Tim, the Office boy, Robert
4 Ames; Miss Virginia Jefferson. Edity
Speare; Mrs. Rutherford Dean. Mrs
" Peel Saunders; Col. Belden. William
Sans; Freddy Belden, Robert Adams
Clarice Mulholland Alice Donovan:
Birdie Smith. Carrie Jones. and
Silent Manicure Misses Teresa
Michelena Blanche Blanchard and
Jessie Robb; the Temperamental
Lady, in the electric bath. Lillian
n Dixon Mrs. Tough; Mrs Herbert
Gordon Ruth Holt Boucicault: Sen.
ator Joel Dixon. Charles Waldron
Mrs. Dixon, Jessie Bonstelle.
49,.