The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1915-10-26
DETROIT OPERA HOUSE.

ness, Jealousy, loves inuikuee' van
tiles and bluffs" of the golden cage
known as grand opera. and It's tenn
peramensally unbalanced song birds.
In the satirical comedy, $4,000 A
Night" 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 collaborated 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 playwrights also. The
piece Is new in its lease OF life
a fortnight or SO old--and novel In
many respects. The playmakers nc.
knowledge Indebtedness for original
material for $4,000 A Night" to
Italian sources.
The play Is whimsical expose
of the grand opera world behind
the scenes" with sound dramatic
structure for its three acts and a
sustained and Subtle comedy that
makes 1t altogether delightful.
Mr.. Ditrichstein's professional lot.
of late. seems to be linked with
philanderirg musical geniuses. One
Of the real artistic records of the
stage has to do with his character
ization of the pianist In tine Con-
cert" Now as Jean Paurel, bari
tone, international idol OF music
lovers and society queens with
wears running close to so, which. In
the living, have left no untasted
10Y, he offers finished effort in
the depletion of the temperamental
singer, vain. gifted, ever seeking
new 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 Is 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
fee 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 is serving them
In place OF the high C'S that are
gone with youth and ovcr-indui
gence in good living; Waguerian
terors. and Italian tenors, German
bassos and Russian baritones, and
French. Italian, German and sew
oral 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
l.. tnI TIM nf
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
we'll done and tears the mask away
from the artifcialities OF the curl
GUS humans who provide us with
grand opera at $4,000 night"
Into the midst of this weird tur.
moil 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 clever In
the way In which he makes Jean
Paurel seem a real person and a
lovable one. despite his amorous
vlst and his ruling passion for hunt.
ing the fluffy pettiskirt.
One of the surest artistic touches
In the play Is the final curtain
where. following Paurel's renuncia-
ton Of the young American singer
whom he had hoped to marry I'D
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 rendezvous with a silly
but beautiful society woman who Is
over-anxious 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
Fox Brooks was equally good as
A.