The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-11-27
THE STAGE

II is said the Messrs. Aborn have
scored success with their big spec
tacular production OF THE Chimes of
Normandy" which comes TO the Gar
rick theatre next week. While the
staging OF the Planquette master
piece Is quite different TO previous
presentations. the beautiful score has
been left intact. The opera will be
given by a specially selected cast OF
so singers, headed by Miss Vinie
DAILY, as serpolette; Daisy Leon. ms
Germaine: Carl Haydn, as Creme
chieux; william Wolf as Gaspard,
and Fred Frear as the Baillie. MAS
sive cyclorama scenes elaborate the
village by the sea, the haunted cas-
tie. the apple orchard In bloom. In
the big fair scene will be introduced
TO lend realism, a wonderful Verlop
troupe OF French acrobats, six OF
them, women and girls.
George Edwardes. owner OF the
Gaiety theatre. London, is sponsor for
the English production OF the Franz
Lehar comic opera, Gypsy Love-"
which Is now in its ninth month at
DAYS. theatre, and will be presented
In the Detroit opera house Monday,
Dec. 2, for a weeks engagement. In
recent letter from Manager Ed
wardes to Mr. Woods, the former de-
clared that the opera Is good for a
two years run IN London. Lovers or
the artistic In tho line OF romantic
comic opera will have their every
wish gratified by witnessing q per-
'ormance OF Gypsy Love-" 1t Ia said.
Iehar Is said TO have excelled both or
his other compositions, "The Merry
Widow" and THE Count OF Luxem-
bourg." The music In Gypsy Love
verges at times on grand opera but
possesses rhythm that fascinates.
Phyllis Partington, the prima Donna,
and Arthur Albro. the Russian tenor,
Who will be heard here. will go TO
london In April. to play In the Ed
vardes production, while the prima
'onna and tenor OF the English COM
any will take their places In the
merican company.
Billy w. Watson. OF the "Girls
from Happland" company to appear
In the Gayety next week. is
comedian who has little to fear that
another fun-maker will initiate his
peculiarities. The old tricks OF
glance and movement which distin-
guish his acting have been brought
to their grotesque perfection by
years OF experiment and work While
he is naturally equipped for comic
parts, 1t Is the original tricks which
he has devised that make his drol-
leries remembered from season to
season. He has a two-act farce this
season, "The Flying Dutchman,
which was built around his unique
personality and methods.
The increasing number OF women
patronizing burlesque performances
makes the business Of the producer
easier In the opinion OF Harry Hast
ings. manager Of the show which Is
playing in the Gayety this week.
"Burlesque audiences OF men are hard
to please" says Mr.. Hastings. 1T Is
foregone conclusion that when a
man takes his wife or sweetheart to
the theatre he goes there In mood
to be pleased readily. But when
they 20 alone they are not in the
same happy mood That Is why many
clever new ideas are dropped, after
short experiment. by burlesque
comedians. A comedian may start
the season with lot OF new material
but. after he has gone up against a
stolid male audience, a few weeks, he
begins to think OF the old Jokes that
were sure FIRE" laugh-getters. As
the season goes on. he is tempted
more and more to fall back on this
sort Of material 1t is a fact. too,
that a new and clever idea originated
by a burlesque comedian is apt TO be
lifted bodily by producer OF high
er-priced attraction"
The ever-tuneful robin Hood"
undoubtedly the most popular light
opera OF American origin ever pro-
duced in this country, will be re-
vived on a large scale In the Detroit
opera house the week beginning Mon
day, Dec 8. The De Koven Opera
company is responsible for the pres
emit revival OF this popular light
opera, and the organization will pre-
sent a half dozen Of the leading
singers OF grand opera abroad, and
in this country. Foremost OF all is
Bessie Abbott, for whom Mascagni
composed his opera "Ysobel." only
to become involved In a maze Of law
suits which prevented Miss Abbott
from appearing in It, Another noted
singer is Florence Wickham. the con-
tralto, who sings Alan-a-Dale In
robin Hood" From England is
Tondon's most popular tenor. Walter
Hyde, who recently won such great
fame I'm Covent Garden. Others In
a really extraordinary cast are Her
bert Waterous, the basso from the
Metropolitan; Carl Gantvoort, the
baritone OF the Boston Opera COM
pany; Miss Sylvia Van Dyck and
Misha Ference, both from Royal
Opera. Dresden, and from the realms
OF lighter opera come Messrs. Edwin
Stevens and George rockingham,
and the ever-popular Pauline Hall.
Such cast will make this revival OF
robin Hood" remarkable event.
Denman Thompson's always adj
mirable "Old Homestead" Is an
nounced as the attraction in the
IJyceum next week. opening in the
Sunday matinee. or this quaint de-
liehtful New ENGLAND idyl nothing