The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-10-07
THE STAGE
DETROIT OPERA HOUSE.


II you fee that you need to be re-
minded that the passing seasons
change your taste In plays and that
the eternal feminine" will always be
the eternal feminine" the revival OF
Arthur w. Pinero's 20year-o-ld CON-
eoy. The Amaxons," now to be seen
In the Detroit Opera house. will turn
the trick for you. Also, you will have
the opportunity to gaze upon the de-
lightful Miss Billie Burke In male toy
gery-and to wish that she would re-
turn to being lust u girl"
The Amazons." It Is said, was writ
ten nearly q quarter of q century ago
by that prince Of satirists, Pinero,
as jab at certain members of the
British feminine nobility who devel-
oped strong tendencies toward mas
cullintty. The story relates how Lady
Castle1ordan and her husband, bitterly
disappointed that their three children
were born girls instead OF boys.
brought them up az boys. having them
taught all the manly arts and sports
and putting them into trousers and
waistcoats instead OF FUZZY ruffles. The
young women, or 'm'lords" as the
sevants know them, are permitted to
don skirts only when visiting their
eccentric mothers friends, their equal
ly eccentric father having been laid
In the ancestral tomb, leaving the
mother to bear the brunt of public
opinion on her private affairs, alone.
while fussing around shooting grouse.
or pheasants. or whatever II Is that
all real country gentlemen shoot when
dressed for the occasion, "m'lords"
meet three men, and, Of course, this
Is the very point In the story where
the eternal feminine" steps in and
the course Of true love begins.
MISS Burke has the role OF Tommy,
the youngest Of the Belturbets, when
In petticoats known AZ Lady Thomas
mo Belturbet. Her sisters, or his
brothers. are Noel and Billy, occa-
sionally called Lady Noeline and Lady
Wflhelmtna. Tommy Is natural
tomboy, and would far rather be a
boy In hunting trousers than q girl
In Paquin frock, anyway. Inasmuch,
as the dramatist has mated Tommy
on with an impossible ninny, the Earl
OF Twentyways, 1t 10 not to be won
dered that Tommy remains untouch-
ed by Cupid's darts while Noeline and
Wilhelmtna succumb. Miss Burke to
her army OF admirers, Is lust too dear
TOT anything" In any role she may
present over the footlights. As Tom
my, OF course. she Is Just as attrac-
tive 20 ever. She is as pretty a be
az one could ind In q days marc
through the game preserves, roguisl
staggering. charmingly self-conscious
and In spite Of trouers and necktie, az
deiiciously feminine as only Billie
Burke can be. However, It Ia safe
TO wager that the Billie Burke deyo-
tees would rather have their Titan
haired divinity In lace founces than
in hunting boots.
m revivtng the play, Charles Froh-
man cast Ferdinand Gottschalk as
Tweenways, and Fritz Williams, as de
Grtval, characters they created In the
original American production OF the
piece. Their work. as might be ex.
pected. Is admirable. The company
bears all the hall marks OF Frohman
perfection and finish and includes
Anne Esmond. as Lady eljordan;
Elaine lnneScourt, as Lady Noeline;
Dorothy Lane. as Lady Wilhelmina;
Alice John. as Sergeant" Shutter,
"ml0rds," man; Morton Selten, In an
unsuitable Characterization, OF q Brit
ism parson. the Rev. Roger Minchin;
Shelley Hull. az Viscount Utterly, cou-
sin OF the Belturbet boys" and
Thomas Reynolds, Arthur Fitzgerald
and Barnett Parker, In small bits that
go to make up the artistic whole.
Miss Burke and THE Amaxons" will
re In the Detroit all week. giving
matinees on Wednesday and Satur.
day.
ELLA MAE HAWTHORNE.