The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1915-11-02
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DETROIT OPERA HOUSE.

DETROIT OPERA HOUSE.
Henry Arthur Jones gets into com
any with George Bernard Shaw In
nc manner In which he satirixss
ertain heavy British institutions In
he COMEDY Cock o. The Walk In
which OTIS Skinner has very fat
part. and which was preseuted-fol-
ewing a few days OF life--in the
CeLroit opera house, Monday even
ing. The audience was large and
os the sort to appreciate fine acting
and a play Of subueties. and Mr..
Skinner, his associates and MI.
Jones' playwrishting art were given
full measure OF recognition.
A scene In the third act OF the
Play where church and stage are
made 10 join. much against the de-
sire OF the representatives OF each,
in passing judgment upon the guilt
or innocence OF a London knighted
accused Of philander-
ing with one Of his matinee girl wor-
shippers is SO rich In wit, in char
In keen satire. In de-
lightful comedy. and pure fun that
II would be SUFFICIENT to carry any
play to a sure measure OF success.
In this scene, the work OF Mr.. Skin
ner anu his players is an exposition
Of the art OF acting in its purest and
best form. II will prove a choice
morsei To every lover OF good acting,
every student of the drama, who
has the good fortune to witness II.
Concerned In the acting OF II are
Mr.. Skinner. as the bibulous, classic
drama type Of actor Of the old school
who eats. lives, breathes. and speaks
"Bilf' Shakespeare; Vernon Steele,
as the up-to-the-moment exponent Of
the modern and the classical the
same under either name whose good
looks. social splomb and complete
have won him knight
hood from the king and coolies Of
adulation from impressionable
young persons, and the Church OF
England In the be-gaitered ecclecias-
tics. the Right Reverend Lord Bish-
op OF Bsrum, ditto Sherbourne. ditto
ditto Silchester. por-
lrayed by Kenyon Musgrave. John
Rogers, Harry Dodds and John
Gibbs; and the theater in Sir Roger
manager OF the Piccadilly
lheater. London. Sir Fisher Staynes,
ditto Pantheon, Sir John Darrell
ditto society. as unprecedented by
Walter +. Scott Walter Gibbs and
Frederick VI. Conklin.
To give the credit that Is due to
each Of these players, and to Reg
insld Barlow as the provincial. the
ac;or-despising father Of
the young woman implicated. and
to Ernest A. Elton. as Clibtetts, the
Cver-onicious confidential secretary
Of Sir Augustus Conyers. over whose
fatheriy kisses to the young miss
the pow-wow Ia held. would consume
many columns. The whole Is ad-
mirably done because of the individ-
ual.excellence. OF the actors. and the
ability that makes such an ensem-
BILE possible cannot be too highly
praised.
While satire Is the foundation and
the structure OF the play. Mr.. Jones
is entirely good-natured IN his
thrusts at the complacent. society
and money-mad knights OF the the
alter as exemplined in the actor
manager Of London, and In his por-
traiture of the senile. deaf. kindly
and Indifferent, as the case NAV be.
lord bishops Of the Established
church whose pompousness Is their
chief trait. In his treatment of these
folk, and what they represent Mr..
Jones Is less vitriolic than Is Mr..
Shaw and his satirical digs more
amusing to the onlooker because
more tolerantIy good-natured.
Mr.. Skinner as Tony Belchamber.
whose speech while all mine own
is largely Shakespeare. is at his
OcSt. iOHy u dIWNyS NlluOut
tuppence. rarely has an engagement
because Of his drinking habits. but
ever has q hearty laugh, a quick
wit, ready tongue, honor, charity.
audacity. cheeriness and complete
faith in his own acting genius. He
is reprehensible rascal. but lika-
BILE. and Mr.. Skinner acts him with
all the exuberance and pride the
real actor always has in so fat and
juicy" part
Janet Beecher is the silly young
miss whose matinee alteration OF
Sir Augustus gets them both into
such peck o. trouble. and Enid
Bennett IL her equally silly young
friend who In jealousy OF the other
girls progress In securing the at
tention of Sir Augustus TO herself
tells father. and precipitates the dis
aster, while Rita Onway gives an
admirable character bit Of the cock.
ney waitress who wants 10 play
Ophelia
ELLA MAE HAWTHORNE.