The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-05-14
THE STAGE
DETROIT OPERA HOUSE.

That's May Robson--the one with
the gray hair---who sits with her back
To YOU when the curtain goes up in
the Detroit opera house this week.
She Is on the stage frst and last aud
most OF the time. and that Ia why "A
Might Out" Ia successful farce. Miss
Robson and G. L. Darcy collaborated
In the making OF the play; but in spite
of Mr.. Darcy. whose knowledge OF
comedy Is wide. "A Night Out" would
bs out about one night If 1t were not
for Miss Robson.
The play tells the adventures OF
Granmum whose puritanic daughter
gets on her nerves, but who has found
the fouth she never had. In her own
Younger years, In the life OF her
two grandsons. The boys are in the
habit OF clambering down the Ivy
that decorates the front porch and
hiking to New York on the 80 p.
m. train, to return at sunrise and
appear the incarnation OF virtue when
their smileless mother knocks on their
door q few hours later. Granmum
gets track OF their escapades, and de-
termines TO go with them, just TO see
what sort OF time they have among
the bright lights. They don't like the
idea, but Granmum declares she'll be
a real sport, and in the second act
they haul her In over the Ivy route. in
a sad state OF mind and stomach. for
the cabaret has been raided and she
has departed suddenly via the fire
escape, minus brooch and hand
full OF puffs. The secret can't be kept
1t energies at the same time as an
other secret-the fact that someone
has stolen a bond from Granmum S
safety deposit vault One of the boys
Is suspected; and Uranium lies val
iantly to an astonished policeman
who, she thinks, has come to arrest
one of her darings But the villain
Is exposed. the boys are triumphant,
their girls are radiant. mother Is
sQuelched. and the curtain goes down
on q speech by Miss Robson that
sounds too much like what comes aft
ar Moral in the animal lies they tell
children.
The play itself isn't so much; but
Miss Robson Is most amazing good
Once a minute she pronounces some
very unexpected line twice in the
same period she delivers herself OF
piece Of acting that nobody else would
stage 10 like the old man Of the sea
an incubus that our comedy has found
impossible to shake OFF Either she
IL q grouchy dame with an ingrowing
mouth, or she Is one Of those sweet
faced saints. But Miss RObson's
Uranium has been conquered neither
by the sourness nor the strenuousness
OF life; she Is neither bitter nor re-
~ l.
and alert, and II they could only be
bit quicker on their pins, a couple OF
cid ladies that we know would be lot
like Granmum.
A very good company supports Miss
Robson. Paul Decker and Harry
O'Neal take the roles OF Paul and
Jack. the grandsons. and supply plen-
ty Of ginger. Kathleen Comegys and
Winifred Bryson are the girls that are
necessary TO explain why Paul and
Jack haven't passed away from ennui
ia their mothers home. c. c. Gwynne
has the part OF Mr.. Deacon, who Will
mako love to anybody whom he sus-
poets Of having money and Eddie
Leaman plays Percy. his son. Mr..
seductive dimples; his smile is the
signal for outbursts OF mirth. John
Rowe gives very good character
story Of Terry, the careful gardener.
whose vines are being ruined. Edith
Conrad is very good as the stern
mother.
The play 10 in three acts, The first
setting gives a beautiful picture OF
the Hudson highlands on a moonlight
night.
The Detroit opera house will close
for the season after Saturday nights
performance.