The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-01-02
IN THE LOCAL PLAY-HOUSES

the emotions would be To confess that
one Is lacking In some very essential
qualities.
The drama il ia three acts and a
prologue, the latter disclosing the
home OF Louis Floriot. deputy Rttor'
ney, In a suburb OF Paris. Raymond.
his four-year-old son, IL dangerously
Ill. To the house comes Jacqueline,
his wife, who, two years before, had
run away with a lover, who has just
died. She returns 70 plead on her
knees for forgiveness and 20 be TAX
en- back FloFiot is unrelentlng and
turns her away without even allow
ing her to see their son. She has
tsCaTCeIy gone when Floriots devoted
friend Noel. arrives. He does not
know of the separation and when he
learns of II he defends the wife.
whom he has himself loved, and up
braids the husband for refusing TO
take her back. lie awakens Floriot's
sympathy and the latter relents But
he seeks his wife in vain She has
gone no one knows where.
When the curtain rises on the frst
act 80 years have elapsed. Jacqueline,
! a mere shadow OF her former self as
a result Of a life of dissipation. blind
! ~ followed in an effort 70 forget her
/ misery and stifie the natural yearDins
! for her son, whose memory Is all that
1 she holds dear in life, is disclosed as
! the paramount of l.aroque. an adventur-
! er with record OF numerous arrests.
! She has fallen in with him in Buenos
! Ayres and they put mp al the Three
| Crowns" inn in Bordeaux on their
! way to Paris, where Laroque expects
| TO wax fat by resuming his sharp
! practices Under the influence of
ether, to which she is a confirmed
! slave. she has revealed that she was
once woman of good family, and III
! this way Laroque learns that she is
| the rightful claimant 10 10000 francs
which she brought her husband as
! settlement at the time OF her mar
riage. She prefers. however, TO let her
husband and her son believe her dead,
and quarrels with her lover when the
| latter insists on her laying claim TO
| the money.
Following the quarrel Laroque
reEes ready TO proceed TO Paris alone.
determined TO get the money by re-
sorting 10 blackmall Jacqueline, NOV
ed by desire TO protect her sons
name, shoots down Laroque and is ar
rested on a charge OF homicide.
The natural sequel TO this tragic
incident Is the trial OF the woman, in
the assize court Since her arrest, she
has refused TO say word and will
not even disclose her identity. She is
known only as Madame X. The court
has appointed 10 defend her, Raymond
Floriot her own son, who, OF course,
is wholly ignorant OF the fact as Is
Jacqueline, until the court calls the
young attorney by name. This Is Ray
mond's first case, and the court room
is crowded with friends. His mysteri-
Gus client has told him nothing in her
defense. but her cry of anguish when
his name Is called arouses his sym
patty and he pleads her cause with
feTVenCy that moves the court and
jury 10 the verge OF tears.
The acquittal OF Madame y, the rec
ognition Of the prisoner by Floriot
who is now the distinguished presi
dent Of the Toulouse court. Raymonds
discovery that he has secured the ac-
quittal of his own mother on a muir
der charge, the reunion of mother and
son and the death OF the former are
the stirring incidents that crowd the
closing moments Of the play and cause
spectators 10 bring forth their hand
kerehiefs And improbable as it is,
the situation presented here is one
that cannot fail to grip the stoutest
heart, unless ii is made of stone.
The piece is superbiy acted. 'rhe
work OF Miss Adeline Dunlap In the
titular role carries an irresistible APP
peal and stamps her as an emotional
actress of remarkable ability and I'M
questioned power. The picture she
gives us of the dissolute woman, in
the first act. is not pleasant one,
to be sure; TO many 1t may be re-
pulsive, but it is accurate. and as a
bit of acting is a noteworthy effort.
And nothing, outside Of the actually,
could be more pathetic than the spec
tacle OF the mother, just before, the
final curtain, longing to take her boy
in her arms, yet dreading to reveal her
identity TO him. When the boy, hav-
ing been enlightened by his father,
finally gives way to the emotion he,
too. is trying to keep back, lest the
other know that he knows, utters the
one word mother" and falls at her
feet. his action finds response in an
audible sob from the audience.
Harry Mainhall Is cast as Raymond
His voice strikes one at first az be-
ing too boyish, but after a bit you
find that his work is all the more real
istic by virtue OF that very boyishness.
His speech to the jury is not unlike
what one would expect from budding
attorney in our own courts.
BYRON Douglas, who plays Floriot
is the same Byron Douglas we ussd
to know in the days OF the old Pike
stock company, only little more ma
ture. a little more finished. He brings
to the part the full measure OF rx--
experience. Robert Patton Gibbs gives
distinctly human portrayal OF the
friend, Noel, and the Dr. Chesnel OF
the T. s. Guise, Ia another EFFORT
worthy OF special praise Harry {.
Bradley has a small bit as Victor,
half-witted porter but he gives II an
impersonation that as q bit OF char
acS9r work, stands out prominently
Madame X will remain all week.
i