The Detroit times., 1915-02-23
:: In Local PlayhOuses
DETROIT OPERA HOUSE.

DETROIT OPERA HOUSE.
There IL q distinct charm about
chauncey olcotrs new play. "The
Heart OF Paddy whack." which Ra-
chael Crothers wrote for the favorite
Irish player. and In which he began
q wsek's engagement In the Detroit
opera house, Monday.
or course. the play d Irish, and
the characters are Irish. and the
speech fs rich. rolling Irish brogue.
and the tender sweet sentiment OF
the play, its fairy lore fancifulness.
its blarney. It's honesty, It's innocent
trustfulness are just as typically Irish
as the pretty ballads which Mr.. OIL
cott sings.
II an Olcott play had no perfectly
good place, or rather places. In II for
Olcott songs, II would be an Olcott
play not at all. So. In "The Heart
|of Paddy Whack." these melodious
interiudes are frequent and the songs
are particularly pleasing and lifting.
Moreover. In all Mr.. Olcott's long CO
reer he has never sung more sweetly
and effectively.
"A Little Bat OF Heaven (that's
Ireland), "A Broth of Q Boy" and
Irish Eyes df Love" are Mr.. Olcott's
three new ballads. the music Of which
10 In Hrnest Bali's most tuneful vein.
while the words have the sentiment
which might be expected from Irish-
men like the writerB--J. Edward XII
lalea and j. Herman Brennan. But
the Washington's birthday audiences
which crowded the theater had no
notion Of allowing Mr.. Olcotf to get
found himself compelled during the
entrSacte to sing all the old fAvorttes.
demands for which. by title. came
from all parts of the house.
The music II q large factor In MI.
Olcott's current production. for In ad-
dition to the ballads, an accompliahe.
violinist, Mr.. Pearl by name. accord
Ing to the program. plays several 80
los. accompanied by Mr.. Olcott's own
musical director, Cassius Freeborn,
Henry Miller, the well-known actor
manager, Is Mr.. Olcott's manager this
year, and Mr.. Miller's excellent taste
rs q stage producer Is shown In two
charming stage settings-the nrSt,
the living room In Dennis OMalley's g
paddy Whack) unpretentious. cosy
little house, and the second. . corner
In the garden which In the flrst set
ting II glimpsed through the living
room windows. The garden u o riot
|of flowers glowing gloriously beneath
the rosy-red CLEANS Of the late after
noon sun.
Miss Crothers has been most sue
cessful In providing play suited to
Mr.. Olcott's personality and talents,
and not In years, II ever before. has
he been provided with SO good q We
hicle.
.The Heart of Paddy whack" In q
sort OF Irish Rosemary" but In this
case, the middle-aged bachelor who
falls In love with his young ward on
her return from school, finds this love
returned and the curtain goes dowr
to the imaginary sound Of the bells
In the village church gaily ringing .
weddin' tune.
Edith Luckett, 90 Mona Cairn, Dem
mis- O'Malley's ward. and who In . ht
of childish resentment Of punishment
in basyhood christened her roproving
guardian Paddy Whack, played the
part with sweet and pretty girlish-
ness. Miss Luckett has q clear, fresh
voice and q distinctness Of utterance
most pleasing.
Each OF the characters In the play
found sympathetic and Intelligent IN
terpretation by the following players:
Jennie Lamont. Maud Hosford. Louis
'Eposit, Jane Haven, Charles &. Ver-
ner. Fleming Ward, Richard Quilter.
Bessie Lea Lestina, Nina Saville and
Walter Colligan.
ELLA MAE HAWTHORNE.