The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1915-09-21
DETROIT OPERA HOUSE.

everything except enunciation is
presenting play convincing IN
everything but the logic of its de
movement. In the Detroit opera
house. Elsie Ferguson, an actress
OF charm and power, heads the com
many; 'Outcast" is the name OF the
play. which was written 10y Hubert
! Henry Davies.
For three and one-half acts, Mr..
Davies shows that he knows what
/ people are. Then suddenly he turns
his men and women into puppets
and pulls the wires that lead them
into a halpy ending. You leave the
| theater With good taste L. your
mouth, with a memory OF good act
ing and good situations trying TO
nut your brain 10 sleep. But II
your intellect refuse TO be drugged,
il replies 20 you ihat II Valentine
is so weak and shallow that she can
neither stay with her husband nor
run away with her lover, Godfrey
deserves little sympathy FOR insist
ing on remaining In love with her;
whereas if GeoHrc' really does love
her as much as he says he does
and thinks he does, and acts S II
he does, he gives her up very, very
easily, in one OF those nice Christian
speeches which IS scarcely JUSTIFIED
by anything in his past career. Yes
after all this love that refuses TO
die, Valentine makes speech about
going back 10 her husband. and
Geonrey makes a speech about the
whole duty OF man. and the audi
ence is supposed To he convinced
that this is logical outcome for
play which, OF course has 10 reach
that conclusion In one way or an
other
Miss Ferguson acting. and that
of David Powell as Godfrey. almost
put logic to sleep. Having seen
them. you feel amply repaid for
spending your evening and your
money Miss Ferguson takes the
part OF Miriam. an uneducated but
quick-witted and beautiful girl,
whose deficient schooling is more
than made up by her adventures
with many men, Life is strong in
Miriam: she has had to live, and
living has been more important 10
her than the manner OF II. Godfrey
is the first TO awaken her deeper
feelings. He takes her because he
finds her interesting. and because
she takes him out OF himself. after
the crushing blow of Valentines
jilting of him 10 marry money and
loves him. she casts aside her
sophisticated manner of the streets
and strives TO become NJ mste for
him. -only TO be put away when Val
entine comes back 10 her old love
and announces her willingness TO
run away with him from London to
Buenos Aires. But when Valentine
sees Miriam's misery, she in,ag ines
the misery Of her own deserted hus-
band, and decides TO go back TO
him; and Godfrey is easily comfort
ed Gas any judge Of fine women
should have been in the second
actl with Miriam.
Miss Ferguson's acting speaks
louder and considerably clearer
than her ,words. She often finds a
look or gesture sufficient to ex-
nress herself, where paragraph
would not be enough. In the third
act, she shows her power as an
to prevent Godfrey from seeing
Valentine again Yet she Is not at
her best at such a time. che is
much more satisfyig as the world
wise girl OF the first act. taking
what the gods give her with con.
siderable curiosity. deal OF humor
and no complaint. and the quiet.
hrnken-hearted Woman 81 tee last
sense. Miss Ferguson depicts faith.
fully and convincingly the progress
of Miriam in this development. and
II is this which shows, more than
any one moment of acting. her fine
ability.
Mr.. Powell as Godfrey has a part
by no means easy to play. and he
handles it with great skill. His
portrayal OF the nerveshatter.
ed, gloomy. Respondent man of the
first act is mastery Warburton
Gamble and Woodall Bride IS his
friends, Hugh and Tony, Gillian
Ccaife as Valentine. Nell Compton
as Nelly, Leslie Palmer as Taylor
and Angela Lee Lewes as the maid
have roles OF less Importance In
which they are thoroughly capable
The staging-ther are but two sets
for the four acts--is adequate
u Mr.. Davies had prepared the
way for his fina, scene by showing
that Geoffrey's love for Valentine
was. becoming periunctory, due 10
memory rather than To present pas
sion, ne would have built a more
convincing play. A. IL is, the audi
ence must trust 20 brainy com
pany and good Characterization e
give IL very enjoyable evening.
W. X. KELSEY.
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ORPneUM
Small and dainty possessor OF