The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-01-07

pETRoir OPERA HOUSE.

The Daughter OF Heaven" ''dra
matte spectacle by Pierre Lott, who
Knows something about every country
II( France, and judith Gautier, who
T|M1ob 20 follow I'm the footsteps Of
U>f iIIustrious father, opened Monday
night IN the Detroit Opera house,
The Spectacle deals with the aspira
uou Of the Manchau emperor TO unite
ne two warning races of China BY his
marriage with the empress OF the
Ming dynasty. This gives an oppor
tuuity for the representation OF two
courts and battle, with all the exotic
spIendor Of the Orient and few of It's
4 smells. The Liebler company has no;
e(iutod expense In the staging. Wher
ever rich color is appropriate. II has
been applied; and where delicacy Is
demanded, there Il is found. Every
scene brought a gasp from the audi
ence. followed by applause that was
well-deserved II is not easy 10 rep
resent royalty In truly regal fashion,
and no doubt Mr. Tyler has super
seeded all former efforts in this direc-
ton. A deaf man would become very
enthusiastic over The Daughter OF
Heaven" As series OF pictures, the
spectacle IL beautiful. and in the best
81 taste. and shows power OF imagi-
nation that Is rare even In an age OF
exquisite stage settings.
And yot--
There Ii battle scene. The audi
enco sees the interior OF the Ming for
tincation, the walls of which have
bean pierced by the Manchu artillery.
Rlchly-clad mobiles surround the en-
press, waiting 10 die with her when
death or dishonor becomes the only
choice. The scene Is litten with
lurid glow, In which flashes the gold
or helmets and the red and green
Ights OF jeweled trappings. There are
explosions OF cannon; the low wall,
where q breach has been made, falls
before the IRE Of the enemy. The
soldiers see that all Is lost. The en-
press puts torch TO huge pyre, her
devoted oficers climb upon the fam
ing structure, and the horrible light
WAKES and wanes as they are con-
sumed.
Splendid, as q spectacle. But as a
drama? One Is reminded irresistibly
Il . scene IA another French play. The
stage n bare, save for a few mounds
and scant bushes. A dim. gray-green
back-scene, OF no figure, represents at
once the vast held and the coming
dawn. A woman, In the uniform OF
Napoleon. speaks q long monologue,
Interrupted only by the sound Of 4e
wind and broken cries and means OF a
phantom army lying on the stricken
field. From that bare stage, from |
that one long speech, there comes to |
the breathless audience all the terror,
AL the glory OF the great fight on the
Immense cannon-swept field OF Wag- !
ram.
That is drama, and 1t Is poetry II |
cries to the Imagination, and the mind |
responds inevitably. And the question |
comes: Can q spectacle be good
drama? Is II not limited by its own
maEnificence! Ask yourself this:
Would you see "Kismet" twice? Or
The Daughter Of Heaven"
Miss Viola Allen plays the role OF
the Daughter Of Heaven. the empress
OF the Ming race; plays 1t according
10 the tradition OF the days OF Booth.
Tradition stiIl acceptable In our so
cent houses. Yet the play leaves no
other course open. II Is couched In
extravagant language at which Shake
speare, himself q sinner would have
laughed. For instance, who expects
gkrdenars, sweeping rosepetals from
the lawn, to talk about destiny and
speak like Solomon trying to impress
the Queen OF Sheba? Go to the other
extreme OF realism and the dialogue
would read about like this:
Serene Elegance: The viceroy.
think i seen yistiddyT'
Cinnamon: "Wot, fer Instance"
Serene Elegance: The viceroy,
b'gee, sneakin' inter the palace"
Rose Lotus: Jaw, butcher kiddin'"
(Roars OF laughter from the other
gardeners).
II II hard to tell which is worse
the stilted speech OF the Chinese lab
orers, or the unshod language of the
sofl-worker OF reality. But there is
q mean. For example, see the grave
diggers In Hamlet"
Notice must be taken OF the work
Of Ian MacLaren az the emperor OF the
Manchus, who made part of the play
Interesting. and of that OF Norris Mil
ungton, little boy who Is q pearl OF
treat price Ito use language slightly
Inferior to that OF the play). His
work, IN the opinion OF many, was the
hit Of the show. He speaks with an
unaffected nRturafness, and yet with
such a pure diction. as to shock into
admiration those familiar. with the
usual type OF stage child.
In spite OF the reputation OF its
authors, and In spite Of It's magnif-
cence. The Daughter OF Heaven"
must be declared a step backward in
drama We must not be COMPOUNDED
BY It's splendor; we must analyze our
dissatisfaction, and ask ourselves, in
the cold gray light OF next days real.
NY, whether We want glorious spec
tacle. dazzling the eye and lulling the |
brain or whether We need the drama |
Of actually, expressed with magma
ton and shouting TO the mind through |
every avenue OF sense.
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GARRlck.