The Detroit times., 1914-12-01
DETROIT OPERA HOUSE.

nave taken pOsstSSloi VI AhN SN"SN
and IL your theatergoing thus Tar IN
the season has not made YOU realize
this fact then 20 TO see watch your
Step" in the Detroit opera house
this week, and be completely con.
Vinced. This gorgeous style show
OF dresses and dances is just one love
ly frock after another and success
sion OF terpsichorean twists that sim.
ply fades all the Made in America"
fashion expositions and Castle-House'
I1aLr1s-Sc Dfnse thes dansant into a
cubist braJh storm OF gray Novem-
Der sky.
The lavishness and riotous coloring
OF The Peasant Girl presented in
the Garrick theater last week was
dilated upon IN this column a week
ago, but that brilliantly CARRIED girl"
with the picture OF Mrs. Vernon Cas-
tie not "a hours old in the minds eye,
now looms up In the memory as a
very sedately-dressed person.
When the curtain rolls up on
watch Your Step" you hear lot OF
talk about a will and an inheritance
OF $4,000 ,O00-that's the plot, Frank
Tinney later tells you--and before the
curtain descends you are absolutely
certain that the millions have been
spent by Charles Dillingham; in stag
ing the show ard paying the salaries
of remarkable array OF star enter
tainers including Vernon Castle, Mrs.
Vernon Castle, Frank Tinney, Eliza
beth Brice, Charles King. Elizabeth
Murray, Harry Kelly. Renee Grantz'
AL Holbrook and dozen or two lesser
satellites, with a staSeful or chorus
beauties and good-looking young men
10 keep the show one long swaylng,
fascinating alluring dance.
Mr.. Dillingham; really should be
chided for his reckless disregard or
money. Perhaps. on second thought.
he should be lauded and pointed out
"a a patriotic person, who IN stress or
war times. puts money IN circulation.
At any rate. there has been great
looseping OF the Dillingham; purse
strings In offering Watch Your Step"
to the public, and 1t can be written
down, without any fear OF having TO
erase II, that the show is the most
wonderful modern Arabian Nights"
entertainment up TO date.
Watch Your Step" was produced
Thanks giving day In Syracuse, and
for any roughness. but there was moth
ing about the performance to indicate
it's brief existence except an attractive
freshness OF voice and spontaneity or
movement In the chorus, and spe-
cial verve in the work of the prtnci-
pals.
With so many stars Of the highest
ability 10 amuse and entertain. II
would he impossible TO praise one over
the other for each in his and her way,
gave the best that was in them and
due space had been arranged for them,
by the makers of the book and music.
Harry B. Smith and Irving Berlin, and
the army OF designers and costumers.
to make the most OF selling :heir
goods" over the footlghts.
The Vernon Castles gave ample
evidence that their talents are not
confined TO their toes. Mr.. Castle is
distinctly effective as a comedian,
Mrs. Castle sings prettily and wears
some OF the most beautiful sartorial
creations that ever came TO life froba
a fashion plate; both dance divinely,
and IL there was not another thing
In the show il would be worth your
evenings time and two dollars, just
to watch this tall, clever coup/ not,
and tango and one-step. Mrs. Castles
frocks are the most artistic and love
ly imaginable. Indeed the entire stage
settings, the color motifs worked out
In the scenery and the gowns, and
the daring. wonderful combinations
in tints and form could only have
emanated from real artists. Turning
A.. 81 hA
reader learns that the costumes and
scenery we're designed by women
Helen Dryden, OF the Globe theater,
Mr.. Dillingham's own theater In New
York, and Lucille, otherwise Lady
Hooray for both 'em
Irving Berlin's music is "synco-
pated debauch." It's tunes, "raggy"
and melodious, keep the toes tapping
and the body swaying and there Is
some very skillful orchestration In
several OF the numbers. A large or
chestra gave a good account OF itself
under a good director The singing
voices are away above the average.
Renee Gratz. an English girl, making
her first appearance on the American
stage. Is a charming young woman TO
look at, with a pleasing manner and
a pretty voice. Elizabeth Brice Is an
favorite with Detroit au-
diences, and her charm increases with
every season. Her professional part.
ner, Charles King, also does not stand
still in his clever work, Frank Tin
ney is black-face host whose
method OF creating laughter Is en-
tfrely original Elizabeth Murray.
with her delicious Irish brogue. and
her ability TO sing coon song" bet
ter than anyone else. Is always local
too. Altogether, there is an
awful lot for the price OF your ticket
In watch Your step" and its galaxy
Of entertainers, It's opulence of In.
vestiture, its sprightlv movement, its
pretty music, aud its fascinating dane
ing Is never likely 10 be equalled, let
alone excelled. The Follies and the
Winter Garden shows hereafter will
have some" gait 10 strike, to over
take Mr.. Dillingham's show.
And always remember there are tie
clever Castles IN Watch Your Step"
A little twist OF the theatrical fatos
ironically. VIII bring to the Detroit
opera house next week. the modern
morality play. "Fverywoman. 'ust 10
remind us that the glitter and glare
OF mundane things after all, IL empty
and improbable "Everywoman" ,or
this season has been given a more
elaborate equipment than ever py
Henry w. Savage.
ELLA MAE HAWTHORNE.
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CARRICH