The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-11-19
DETROIT OPERA HOUSE.

you have slipped away" az the gen
tie Scotchwoman would put it-dled
40 the blunt Anglosaxon tongue
says?
That question is suggested oN
The Return OF Peter Grimm II
which David Warfield and a group o
me actors and actresses are playing
&C the Detroit opera house. this week
Aren't you little bit afraid OF tns
disappointment that may await you j
YOU do come back? Perhaps you
have made a will and disposed OF
your belongings in the directions
where YOU think they will do the most
xood. Would you like to return 70
discover your blunder? Or you nave
made no will-you have been snatch,
ed untimely from the world; Woulu
you like to hover near your loved ones
and try-oh, so hard-to make tnen'
understand what you want done, Wnal
10 for the best-and IND yourseIl un,
needed? Find yourself unable 10 SEND
your message across the YolQs on
might not hnd yourself as lucky as
was Peter Grimm. There might be no
feyerstricken, imaginative child III
YOUR old home, who loved you and
thought about you after you were
dead.
So. for realism, give US no return;
snare us that certain unhappiness IN
the bliss or hamilton which you or i,
IA our education or temperament re
ouire look forward to with longing or
with carelessness. But for poetry,
for beauty OF thought and execution
give US David Warfeld In Peter
Grimm!
See how the crafty Belasco dis
misses the question OF unhappiness In
A future state. Is Peter Grimm SAD
NJ his inability 10 make his loved ones
understand? Does he worry? Does
he despair? A great playwright might
have fallen there; Belasco, greater,
avoids the pit by insisting on Peter
faith In his power to push over his
message. This Is but one instance OF
the dificulties which Mr.. Belasco has
overcome. The more obvious prob
lens. such as the entrance OF Peter
Grimm as an "astraI envelope with
out visible opening and shutting OF
doors, or the carrying on or the boy
william by, Peter while the child
body still lay on the couch, were easy
compared with many subtler questions
which must have come up for solu-
ton. For instance. the man who pro
duced 'sThe Girl OF the Golden West"
might have been expected TO employ
the more sensational offices OF spir-
itualistic medium; but Mr.. Belasco is
a poet as well as playwright and
producer, and IL was as poet that
he looked upon Peter Grimm's return.
Bue to return to the argument
how Belasco avoids the problem or
future happiness or pain. He avoids
any question as TO Peters mental
or is II psychic--state by endowing
his spirit (let us adopt that word Tor
the sake of convenience) with conf
dence in his power to direct mundane
affairs. Yet, II Peters spirit has this
power, there Is certainly no climax in
the play. Everything is settled be-
forehand. Peter cannot fail, and the
real drama, his struggle TO give his
message and save his loved ones
from pain, Is thus rendered void. But
is this the case? While the writer's
hair still bristles at the memory OF
that marvellous second act, let him
set down that II certainly 10 not
been so careful to see that Peter
Grimm's confidence in his power does
not become manifest to the audience
until he has exerted II and accom-
plished his aim. We see the strug-
gle; II Is long afterward that we re-
cali Peters security in the belief that
he can make everything turn out for
the best.
There Is little need to call atten-
ton to the marvellous craftsmanship
OF the stage setting, the manipulation
of lights, the effects OF thunder, light
ming and wind. Belasco again.
Mr.. Warfeld cannot be praised too
highly. There can be no other Peter
Grimm, for even when Peter Is
spirit, Warheld In his Incarnation
please note Irish bull. The company
is 80 good that the names OF all must
be mentioned, with the observation
that high praise must be given to all:
Nephew Frederick, John Sainpolis;
James Hartman, Thomas Meighan:
Andrew Macpherson, the Scots physi-
clan, Joseph Brennan; Rev. Henry
Batholommey, William Boag: Col
Tom Lawton, the lawyer, John r
Weber; william, the boy, Percy
Helton: Catherine, Especial pra-Je),
Janet Dunbar: Mrs. Batholor-ne,
Marie Bates; Marta, Marie Reichardt.
the clown, Tony Bevan.
GARRIck.
Our friend from 'Zinzinnati," Hans
Wagner, otherwise, The Prince, OF
Pilsen.'e Is occupying the Garrick
theater this week and there vas a
houseful OF admirers, Monday eve
ming 70 extend the hand of welcome,
after many seasons absence. Henry
w. Savage, who made pile of she
keis out Of The Prince q number OF
years ago, IL likely to swell his bal
ance In the bank considerably more
in the present resurrection OF Hans.
Mr.. Savage's well-known managerial