The Detroit times., 1915-10-26

pulled aside to uncover the petit
ness, jealousy. loves, intrigues,. van
tiles and bluffs" OF the golden cage
known as grand opera. and its tenn
peramensally unbalanced song birds.
In the satirical comedy. $4,000 A
Might" made known Monday even
ing, IN The Detroit opera house.
with that admirable character actor.
Leo Ditrichstein, In the leading role
of great baritone.
Mr., Ditrichstein, who has written
and adapted and elaborated in the
making Of plays, had hand In the
present instance In conjunction with
Fanny and Frederic Hatton. two ac-
tive Chicago journalists who are
successful playwrigEts also. The
piece ID new in Its lease OF life
fortnight or SO old--and novel In
many respects. The playmakers nc
know ledge Indebtedness for original
material for $4,000 A Night" to
Italian sources.
The play 10 whimsical expose
OF the grand opera world behind
| the scenes" with a sound dramatic
structure for Its three acts and a
sustained and sabtle comedy that
makes II altogether delightful.
Mr.. Ditrichstein's professional lot,
| Of late, seems to be linked with
philandering musical geniuses. One
OF the real artistic records OF the
stage has to do with his character
ization of the pianist in "The Con.
cert" Now as Jean Paurel. bari
tone. international idol OF music
lovers and society queens" with
years running close to 80, which. In
the living, have left no untasted
Joy, he offers finished EFFORT In
the depletion of the temperamental
singer. vain, gifted, ever seeking
now sensations and new loves, ex-
listing only upon the adulation OF
an easily swayed public yet shrewd.
mercenary. and. beneath courtly
manners and sugared speech. the
keenest appreciation Of the most i'm
proved methods of self-advance.
ment and shekels-producing pub
licity. Mr.. Ditrichstein's Jean Pau
rel Is one OF the finest character
portraits this accomplished actor
has ever drawn and that Is saying a
great deal, for he has many notable
achievements to his credit.
Mr.. Ditrichstein's company IL a
large one and its members have un-
usual equipment. Each role Is care
fully cast and admirably acted.
The opening scene Is in the office
of the managing director OF the
Gotham grand opera company-it
requires no magician's trick to sub
stitute Metropolitan. In the minds
of the spectators. and into this Of
flee come the various members OF
the opera company. There are
prima donnas soprano. and prima
donnas contralto, prima donnas In
the embryonic stage and those
whose art and name IL serving them
In place OF the high C's that are
gone with youth and over-indul-
gence in good living; Wagnerian
tenors. and Italian tenors. German
bassos and Russian baritones. and
French, Italian, German and sew
eral other nationalities in the way
of conductors and stage directors.
Each has grievance against the
other. the manager, the theater, the
dressing rooms. the public. All talk
AT once in varied assortment Of
tongues while the manager, Amer
lean. tries to keep his head. his feet,
his temper, his voice and his song
birds. The scene is very real, very
well done and tears the mask away
from the artificiaiities OF the curl
Gus humans who provide us with
grand opera at $4,000 night"
Into the midst of this weird tur-
MOL comes Jean Paurel, white
haired. monocled. exquisitely
groomed. the tabled artist to the
utmost detail of dress. manner and
speech. and the spectator realizes
that after all there Is something TO
the spell which great singer casts
over human kind and which so read
lily lures into his greedy palms the
coveted American dollars. Mr.. Dit
richstein Is exceedingly clover In
the way IN which he makes Jean
raurel seem real person and .
iovable one, despite his amorous
,,st and his ruling passion for hunt.
ing the fluffy pettiskirt.
One OF the surest artistic touches
in the play Is the hnal curtain
where, following Paurel's renuncia-
lion Of the young American singer
whom he had hoped To marry md
he revelation to him on the part
Of his doctor that his golden voice
has gone forever. he stands at the
telephone paying compliments and
making u rendezvous With silly
but beautiful society woman who Is
overanxious to make fool OF her
self,
Beverly Sitgreaves offers an ex.
ccllent piece Of work as tho italian
prima donna who In early life had
been one Of Paurel's many fancies
and In revenge. for being cast aside.
had played the role of Nemesis very
faithfully and successfully. Virginia