The Detroit times., 1913-04-22
THE STAGE
DETROIT OPERA HOUSE.


EloQuently pleading for the right OF
every little babe 20 be born into this
world under conditions that mean sun
shine and light. pure air and hygienic
surroundings, Charles Kenyons PLAY
"Kindling," presented Monday even
ing, In the Detroit opera house. struck
O different note IN the seasons the
atrical offerings and created a new
admiration for Margare; Ellington.
who plays the leading character.
The play is unusual In its theme.
and It's treatment. although both are
as old as the world. It's unusualness
lies in the fact that the dramatist has
had the courage 10 present story not
generally considered just the thing
for stage discussion. II lays bare the
peculiar psychology OF "A certain period
In a woman's life SO sacred as TO place
IL in sheltered shrine, and which Is
touched so humanity delicately and
reverently by the playwright. empha-
sized by the remarkably sincere and
sympathetic work or Miss Ellington.
as to create a new wonder and new
reverse for motherhood.
Maggie Schultz had her young hus'
band Heins. live In one OF the many
ramshackle tenements or the great
New York east side. Heinie is steve
dore and when the play begins strike
has been called and the young hus-
band is out OF work A long series
of circumstances and incidents has
driven into Maggie's mind. and that
OF her husband. the pitiless fact that
to bring children into the world In
the tenements, is to foredoom them To
stunted physical growth, puny mental
ity and cheerless poverty.
Mrs. Bates, a good-hearted, honest
waSherwoman who lives in the 'fiat
above the Schultzs does her washing
down stairs In Maggie's kitchen. be-
cause the plumbing facilities OF the
palatial building do not go beyond the
first floor and, as Mrs. Bates explains
dirty clo'es has to hev little drap
av' wather to souse an rench 'em in
Mrs. Bates once lived I'm Wyoming
where her son was born. and. al
though, Steve aBtes Is good-fornoth
Ing young sport" with criminal tend
encies Mrs. aBtes believes that Wyom
ing gave her by" his birthright OF a
good frame and husky health. She
Ellis Maggies head with tales OF the
wonderful freedom and purity OF the
air OF the sage-brush country until
poor little Maggie becomes obsessed
with the conviction that II the little
one she is about to bring into the
world is to have a chance TO live II
must be in wyoming.
Maggie's consciousness OF her COM
ing motherhood has come upon her go
suddenly that she has not been able
TO tell Heine and when he comes home
to let her know of the lay-off on ac
count OF the strike, and adds An it's
q good ting we amt got no kids TO
suffer. too, Maggie" her heart becomes
like lead and her courage leaves her
The story OF the play Ia built upon
poor little Maggie's pitiful attempts to.
keep her secret from Heine. until she
can earn enough money to take them
to Wyoming. and In her eagerness 10
get away from the dreadful tenement,
OF her downfall. through theft, into
which she is led by Steve Bates. Mag
gie's whole vision Is encompassed only
by her determination that her child
shall not be born I'm the tenement
where the doctor says, the plumbing
would kill "a horse" and where little
ones die every day.
Miss Ellington presents a wonderful
picture or Maggie, physically, and inl
the working of her mind Ii Is one of
the most artistic accomplishments the
local stage has known and, in many
ways. Is touched with the hand OF
genius. No wOman's heart could re-
main untouched by Miss lllington's !
portrayal OF Maggie and such pre-
sentation must arrest mems attention,
and give them something to think
about Miss Ellington makes Maggie |
living reality, rot merely an acting
part, and the actress never loses her
grip upon what she is doing, for one
flicker OF an eyelash. from the begin
ming TO the end of the play. She has
developed a hundred and one little
touches, so human, SO pitifully femin-
Inc and appealing that the eyes OF the
spectator become moist and the emo