The Detroit times., 1912-12-17
THEATERS
DETROIT OPERA HOUSE.

DETROIT OPERA HOUSE.
One OF the Quaintest and most I'm.
usual plays the theatrical world has
known In many year. "Milestones.'
came to tho Detroit opera house, Mon
day, evening. for weeks stay, and
was greeted by an audience OF "Our
very pest people"
"Milestones," since its productio0 a
few months ago, In New York, mas
been one Of the pet plays OF the liter
airy cult and, has proven the excep-
tion to the rule, inasmuch as the play
has been remarkable success.
despite its lack Of those elements
which usually carry piece of theatri-
cal property to prosperity.
"Milestones" was written by Arnold
Bennett, the English novelist. and Ed
ward Knoblauch, the American drama
fist, who has lived large part OF his
life In England. Mr.. Knoblauch Is
known to local theatergoers through
his The Faun," which was presented
by, Mr. Faversham, and the New Thea
ter company play, THE Cottage In the
Air." which Jessie Bonstelle offered
during one of her stock engagements
here. Next week, In the Detroit opera
house, Mr.. Knoblauch viii be with US
again In "Kismet"
Three generations Of the Rhead and
Sibley families, OF London, are tie
characters In "Milestones." The
periods are 1860, 1885 and 1912. In
the hrst act, the spectator Is intro
duced To John, his sister, Gertrude
Rhead; their mother; Samuel Sibley
his sister, Rose Sibley and Ned Pym
a family friend. Gertrude Rhead and
Samuel Sibley are engaged to be mar
ried; John Rhead Is in love with Rose
Sibley, but, the close OF the act, secs
Gertrude breaking her troth With
Samuel, aud John separated from
Rose. because John persists In goiug
his own road, In business deal, con
trary to the wishes OF Samuel Sib;ey
and his father, comprising the firm OF
Sibley, Rhead q Sibley. John believes
that the ships of the future are to be
made OF iron. and the Sibleys do not
agree with him, maintaining that ns
English oak has been the shipbuilding
material OF the past 80 It must con-
tinue TO be.
In the second act, John and Rose
are In middle-life, with q daughter,
Emily; Gertrude il the maiden aunt
devoted to Emily; Samuel comes to
visit them with q buxom country
wife, whom he has Just married. Ned
Ppm has fallen into the title OF Lore
Monkhurst, and a young inventor, Ar
ing works, is In love with Emily. Al
a L..
the face OF parental opposition, they
, will have none OF II when Emily
wishes to marry young Preece. aud
the curtain descends with Emily
forced into a bethrothal with the old
family friend, Monkhurst, old enough
to be her father.
The third act sees the golden wed.
ding celebration Of John and Rose,
now Sir John and Lady Rhead, and
around them, Emily, Lady Monkhurst,
and her son and daughter, Lord
Monkhurst and the Hon. Muriel Ppm:
Richard Sibley, the son Of Samuel
Sibley and his country wife Nancy,
and Arthur Preece. Lord Monkhurst
and Samuel Sibley are dead. Mur.el
and Richard are In love with each
other and, as might be expected, there
| is opposition from every one except
Nancy, Richards mother, and Aunt
Gertrude. But Muriel is a product
Of the feminist movement" and has
no intention OF permitting parents,
grandparents or anyone else to inter
fere in her love AFFAIRS. and states
her mind In such unmistakable terms
as to throw the whole serenity OF he
golden wedding anniversary into a
family turmoil.
The playwrights have cleverly pre-
scented the types Of the men and wo-
men, young and old, of the three
milestones Of life, revealing the tradi.
tons and conventions OF each peri ID.
The scenic artist has augmented tie
portraits with three distinct pictures
OF interior decorating" OF the same
drawing room in the Rhead hou3e.
and the costumer has been equally
6eft In dressing the characters in tLe
correct style Of the periods repre-
scented.
The three acts of the play contain
not one thrill, not one dramatic mo-
ment, and not one really difficult
problem and yet II has curious L.
terest for the onlooker, an interest
that grows with every moment. The
whole atmosphere is so honey" SO
wholesome, so simple picture OF LIE
in completely respectable circles, that
the wonder is such material, In a play
ever managed to get hold on any nor
ton of the present-day public.
! The company Is one OF admirable
fitness In every part, and inclu1es
Miss Sybil Walsh, Miss Gwendolyn
Floyd. Miss Cathleen Doyle, Miss Una
Venning, Miss Marie Hassell. Mss
! Blanche Ripley, Malcolm Cherry
Godfrey Douglass, Douglass JenI1et
Cthe latter two. distinct persons
despite the curious reversal oi
names). Charles Vaughan. Reginald