The Detroit times., 1913-10-14
THE STAGE
: DETROIT OPERA HOUSE.

I That wonderful Arabian Nights
tale called "Kismet." which Edward
knoblauch wrote with such Itinerary
grace and charm, and In which Otis
Skinner has won. perhaps. the great
est success Of his artistic life, h In
the Detroit opera house this week,
for the second time within q year.
The production. which created q new
era In staging on the American stage
Is as GORGEOUS. colorful. rich and riot
GUS as ever. and the whole presenta,
ton will remain until the final cur.
tain In its mimic life. one of the re-.
markable stage spectacles OF the de-
cade.
The large audience. Monday even
ing, was most appreciative of Mr..
Kinner's art and the ability of hts
associates. The beauty Of the scenes
especially the splendid harem scene
with its great bath, beautiful women
seductive dancers and fascinating
orientalism brought forth spontaneous
applause.
Mr. Skinner. as Hail. the beggar
seemed to infuse a new spirit of ar
tistry into his work This precious
rascal who lies, steals, plots, kills
and commits other crimes for whicn
he find himself cast into prison never
theless arouses the admiration Of the
onlooker and holds the interest OF
every spectator, because Of his over
whelming love for hts daughter and
the fact that with all his roguery, he
respects and honors womanhoOd. His
crimes are committed In q spirit Of
revenge for the abduction Of his wife
and son. and because he desires to
provide better creature comforts for
his daughter To be sure, the end
does not justify the means. and Hal
Is natural cupidity and vanity ire
Quently prove stronger than his love
for his daughter, but, somehow DO
tween the dramatist's clever draw
ing of the character and Mr. Skin
ner's exceptional skill In delineatiua
Hail. sympathy and interest are OK
tended the beggar-rascal. instead OF
the adherence and contumely that
should be his.
Whether Halt Is cringing and whin'
ing for aims at the gate Of the mos
que, impotently raging in the DARK
dungeon into which he has been Ca
with his arch enemy, the Sheikn
Jawan, or staggering around In ar
rogant effrontery. In the rich robes
he has tricked from the merchants
in the bazaars, the spectator foilows
him eagerly and cannot find the de
position to condemn. His misdoeda
arc forgotten as the last curtain de-
scends and an amused wonder only
10 left that, after so exciting day
Hail can find 1t possible to lazily
stretch himself upon the bundle OF
rags at the door of the mosque, and
with a prayer to Allah upon his lips
snore away into a sleep untroubled
nv the memory Of his crimes and hiQ
fate.
There has been q complete change
OF cast for the Interpretation Of the
play since Mr.. SINNERS previous Wis
II to Detroit, with the exception o.
| Owen Mech, who still gives his OK
cellent performance OF the Sheikl
Jawan. Tn eCaliph, in the presen
instance is in the hands OF Willard
Webster, and the wicked Wasir Man
sur Is played by George 0aul. Merl'
Maddern, q young cousin OF NH
F1ske, IL naive and girlishly attractiv'
as Marsinah. Halls daughter. Gene
We've Dolaro, is Marsinah's duenn'
and Grace Hampton. Rut-al-Kulub. tn
first wife in the harem. The play re-
ouires q large number Of character
to unfold its story and the variou'
parts are adequately and carefuil!
filled by the members Of the DOM
pany. Ernest Leeman and Theodore
De Come, as The Man and The
Weapon, In the prologue before thu
curtain, display pleasing singing
voices In the quantity monotonoui
songs required Of them.
Owing to the length OF the per
Torrance, and the numerous and ella
! borate scenes, the curtain rises FOL
"Kismet" every evening promptly Al
o'clock. 1t will go up promptly a.
2 o'clock, Wednesday and Saturday
afternoons.
ELLA NAE HAWTHORNE.