The Detroit times., 1914-05-12
DETROIT OPERA HOUSE.


The very great extent TO which the
lady in the case" may figure is given
ample proof in play with that title
which Annie Russell brought TO the
Detroit opera house, Monday even
ing, for weeks stay. The play,
written by Paul Kester, would have
sorry time OF IL without the lady in
this case-Miss Russell.
Miss Russell is one OF our most de
lightful and accomplished actresses
Her performance in any stage offer
ing, grave or gay, is artistic and sat
Isfying. Miss Russell is the essence
OF refinement, OF sweet womanliness,
and her charm Is none the less GER
tain because ii Is elusive She Is one
OF the few American actresses TO
whom admiration is given unstintedly
and whom to see is 10 love and 70 be
loyal toward forever after. Not many
women have this power. but II has
been Miss Russeps all the years she
has been behind the footlights, ana
her ability TO attract and to hold in
creases with the passing OF seasons
just TO prove the exception 10 the
rule.
In THE Lady in the Case Miss
Russell has the role of young south
ern girl. Emily Dinwiddie, OF Dinwid-
die hall, Virginia The last OF her
race, Emily has nothing but the old
family home and a burden OF mort.
cages and debts. BY curious chain
OF circumstances she finds herself -
New York, with the Job OF a pro-
fessional Correspondent In famous
divorce case. The Redlaws are de-
termined to be divorced, mostly be-
cause Mrs. Redlaw and her one hun
dred millions desires to marry q
British lord, eldest son Of duke.
"Courtie' Redlaw, an amiable,
wealthy man. tries 10 accommodate
his wife The prospective duchess,
however, will have none OF the usual
divorce proceedings for fear OF jeop-
ardizing her future social position in
England. and. so, she wants the sort
OF legal separation that will throw no
blame and all public sympathy with
her Redlaw, In his difficulty, seeks
the legal aid OF young Watt Dinwid-
die college classmate. and Emily's
cousin. While the consultation goes
on in the law office. Emily oyerhears
"Courtie' outlining TO Watt the pro
posed arrangement aud seeing way
TO save her ancestral home from the
auction block, declares that she will
be the desired correspondent" in
consideration OF $4,000, despite her
cousins indignant reputation OF the
whole affair
Emily had been on the stage under
the name of Robe ST Leger until Ill
ness deprived her OF her singing
voice, and so II is as Miss St Leger
a former chorus girl, that Redlaw
knows her. The correspondent" and
her nearest relative, Aunt Maria, take
Courtie into their fat as roomer
and, OF course. all the scandal that
any perfectly good divorce proceed
ings could possibly desire ensues. AS
the curtain descends, Courtie has Sc
cured the decree and proposes 10 En-
lily and the audience Is expected 10
think the whole AFFAIR quite delightful
and not bit what IL actually Is
highly immoral preposterous and i'm.
possible. in fact or fancy. fiction or
play.
The play Is In three acts and is
badly put together Miss Russell and
her company Yorke. as
Courtie William Raymond as Watt.
and Kate Jepson, as Aunt Maria-by
excellent acting lhfuse the only-life
and interest the piece could possibly
have Mr. Yorke's works. delight.
He Is one OF the finished products
OF the contemporary stage. With
Miss Russell-in private life. Mrs
YoHke--he is able TO lift anything
with which either may be Identified
into something like distinction. II Is
unfortunate that two such admirable
artists should have 10 waste time and
talent upon so poor a medium as MIR
Kester's THE Lady In the Case"
ELLA NAE HAWTHORNE