The Detroit times., 1912-04-30

10 II4I1IeF the poetry ot houh-
tain Idyf from the pages OF book 10
the more or less material requirements
a the stage is a dificult thing. The
actual barking OF Winchesters does
not sound half so romantic as the
thought OF dghting In blood-feud, and
n n hard 10 make bare feet and red
calico look anywhere near so attrac-
i've as Imagination win sympatheticai-
" paint them notwithstanding these
u.fIcuIties, however. Eugene Walter
has taken the heart out OF The Trail
81 the Lonesome Pine" and given IL to
us IN his dramatization, which opened
III the Detroit opera house, Monday
evening.
The staging helps a great deal in
bringing the story to US, however.
There was genuine gasp OF admira-
Iion when the curtain unrolled on the
Irst scene. which showed the lone
1Cme pine" standing straight and tall
IN nook on the mountain trail, with
\ brook tumblsng down the rocks be-
side Il, and a background OF mountain
and valley through which a stream
wound its way. In this setting June,
TIE mountain girl, meets Jack Hale,
the yOnng engineer, who has come 10
Lring civilization into the mountains
and take out the. coal that he may md
there. He manages 10 make friends
with Jud Tolliyer, June's father, on the
basis OF the coal deal and a jug OF
n:oonshine whiskey, but his attentions
ID June incur the further enmity OF her
cousin. young Dave Tolliver, who al
ready feels resentment at the ell
cfoaching forces OF law ant order
which Hale represents. And most of
the mountaineers are inclined TO take
Dawes side. Hale plans for the de-
velopment OF the country are inter
Tered with by panic. the feud breaks
out again In spite OF his efforts to keep
1t quiet. and there are many other com !
plications before the trail leads back
10 the lonesome pine" and Hale and
June walt there for Uncle Billy, the
good-natured justice of the peace.
Charlotte Walker meets the difficult |
requirements OF the part of June in |
excellent fashion. She has great !
deal to do, not the least difficult being |
some long and rather unaramatic |
though thoroughly poetic speeches, but
she. succeeds remarkably well. Aus
tin Webb plays Jack Hale, the engi-l
neer, and makes very serious business |
Of II, as IL, as his friend Bob Berkley !
says, the whole responsibility for the
proper motion of the universe rested /
upon his shoulders. Richard Sterling !
does excellent work In the part of Bob.
w. 8. Hart has one or the big parts OF |
the play, Jud Tolliyer, head OF the fam
ily OF feudists. He gives to IL the fire |
and simple nobility that Characterize I
the men OF the mountains Willard |
Robertson, as the young fire-eater,
Lave Tolliver, Is also very good
George Woodward makes a delightful
Uncle Billy; and Lillian Dix as Old
hun, gives another pleasing bit of
character work. Vida Reed and Cyrus
Wood as younger members OF the
mountain community fit in well.
The good scenic effects are not con-
lined to the first and four acts, which
are set around the lonesome pine. The
Interior OF Jud Tolliver's cabin Is re-
narkable for its fidelity to detail and
the scene In the village at the Gap is
also well put on.
Although at times the action drags, |
and there Is much In the pla ythat is |
mere words, THE Trail OF the Lone |
some Pine" is a pleasing idyl, taking
the audience well into the Cumberland |
mountains and showing the romance
OF an unfamiliar bit OF American life. /
The Trail of the Lonesome Pine"
VIII be presented in the Detroit opera
house all week, wit hthe usual mat
inees.