The Detroit times., 1914-01-20
DETROIT OPERA HOUSE.

Ethel Barrymore In the fullness OF
| her artistic powers and the complete
beauty OF matronly womanhood Is TO
be seen this week In the Detroit op
era house, IN "Tanta," a play made by
G. Haddon Chambers from incidents
In the Anne Sedgwlck novel OF the
same name. The play does not enter
into 1t particularly, for II would not
matter how poor, or how great. the
medium, Miss Barrymore at the pres
ent moment OF her personal loveliness
and ripened art would stand out in
spite OF the playwright's framework.
As a matter OF fact "Tante,' IN hands
! less capable than those OF Miss Bar
! rymoTe and her associates. would be
good deal or a bore. Excellent act
! ing, and the Barrymore personality,
makes II passable.
Miss Barrymore, daughter OF four
generations OF actors. Is no longer the
slender slip or a girl with the jerky,
Lcharmingly simulated impulsiye man
nerisms and the immature acting abii
ity. Steadily progressing in her stage
work-the real callber OF which had
It's first showing 30 Pinero's MID
Channe"-she has arrived a. the point
where she * a personality 10 be reck'
oned with in the histrionic achieve
ments OF the American stage.
In the character OF Madame Mer
cedes Okraska, known TO her intF
mates as "Tante." Miss Barrymore
finds herself with the opportunity TO
show her public many sides OF her
self and her art. Tante Is great pi-
aniste, idollzed by the public. adored
by her friends, petted and worshiped
by artists, poets, society women and
those folk to whom II IL the breath or
life. or the fashion, ~ flock AROUND a
great artistic. Tanto, keen OF Intellect,
with a sergent's tongue, II cutting VII
and the ability 10 read the MOVIES
and the minds OF those with whom she
comes In contact, not only accepts this
adulation, but expects and demands X.
She adds beauty Or person To her mu'
steal glfts and an INSCRIPTIONS con
science 10 her acute sensibilities, she
depises and fout while he cajoie and
faseinates. This complex character
Miss Barrymore presents In a Vi'lu
way and holds her auditors, as sns
does the mimic characters IN the play,
IN a thrall that bears no analysis anu
brooks no explanation.
Mr.. Chambers In writing his play
has merely taken certain characters
and incidents from Mrs. Sedgwick
novel and placed them In situations
20 please his fancy The Tante OF the
stage Is a much younger and more hu-
man woman than the Tante OF the
novel. The Barrymore beauty and art
as emphasized before, are entirely re
suonsiple fog the success OF the stage
Tante.
A group Of men and women whose
acting ability It would be difficult TO
excel. round out Miss Barry mores
efforts at every turn. Charles Cherry
IS delightful ss Gregory Jardine, the
only man 10 come within Tante
tcircle who sees through her aruncial
+ ty and refuses 20 eUccumb 10 ner
baneful influence Mr.. Cherry act
+ ing was reireshingly natural ana
Wholes0mely British. f.. Henry ed
wards was none the &ess successinl
from an acting standpoint. IN the role
} OF Claude Drew who struck Futurist
attitudes and wrote sOnnets 10 ran
/ ties pianistic fingers. William lnRer-
soil, as the German fiddler, Franz
i Lippheim. gave a touchingiy true and
Idelirate characteristics OF a l0yaple
character. Eileen Van Biene did yery
we'll mdeed-wjth the none too easy
role OF Kareen Woodruff the child
whom Taute has befriended and
adopted. and upon whom she pours
ont all the affection OF which her ma
ure is capable. until In lher selfish
resentment az the division NJ kareen's
love. when the latter marrles Greg
DRY Jardne, she seeks 10 ruin the
/ happiness OF the girl 10 satisfy her
own vanity and love of power over
lOthers.
Mrs. Thomas whlnen one 81 the
old guard" or the stage and/ frieDd
and associate Of Miss BARRYMORE
mother and grandmother, gave a fin.
| lshcd BIT OF character drawing as
Mrs Talcott. Tante's friend and chap
erone. and the one person In her
little world not afraid 20 ten the will
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