The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1915-07-07
oARRlck.


In the Garrick theatcr, when the
annual return of Jessie Bonsteile
and her stock company to Detroit
was observed coincident with the
fire-cracking explosiyeness OF inde'
pendence day. To be sure by the
calendar II was the NTH OF July,
but. In order to preserve a. much
law and order as possible on Sun
day. the date held over for two
days without damage to anything
and anybody but some folks prop
erty and a huge supply OF SKY
rockets.
Miss Bonstelle. and the members
OF her company who have appeared
In Detroit previously. were given a
royal reception and flowers by the
basket and the lnge bouquets were
passed across the footlights ~ well
coming tributes to the popular &C
tress and her associates. The new
members Of the company were as
cordially received.
The play chosen for the opening
week is brilliant. epigrammatic
comedy, "The New York Idea"
which Langdon Mitchell, son Of DR..
S. Weir Mitchell, wrote for the use
of Mrs. Fiske, and In which that
noted star scored one of her great
est successes as q Coincidence. The
audience. which occupied every seat
in the theater from orchestra and
box chairs to topmost gallery,
seemed to thoroughly appreciate
the sparkling lines Of the piece and
laughter was continuous.
Mr.. Mitchell. with all the rapier
wit OF a Bernard Shaw, ridicules
the propensity OF smart New York
society for divorce. and its attitude
toward that institution, until his
satirical lampooning becomes more
effective as a treatise on the i'm
morality OF the thing that most OF
the serious moral discussions to
prove the point, offered by other
playwrights.
The situations border on the
farcical, and the dialogue is SO keen
and brilliant that II scintillates. The
characters are concerned In the af-
fairs of two divorced couples. the
Karslakes and the Phillimores. The
former Mrs. Karslake has decided
to marry the discarded Mr.. Philli-
more. until the erstwhile Mrs. Phil
limore meets the CASTOR Mr.. Kars-
lake, and proceeds to make such a
dead set at him that Mrs. Karslake
determines to re-win him for her
self 1t turns out that the divorce
OF the Karslakes was not legal after
all, so the curtain falls on happy
ending.
Miss Bonstelle played Mrs.
Fishes original role of Cynthia
Karslake, with spirit, charm and
many pretty gowns. Corliss Giles
made a good job of the sporting
Karslake. whose fine string Of rae
ing thoroughbreds we're as much
the pride of Cynthia. as OF his own
heart Robert Adams was the de-
liciously, cheeky. outspoken. love
making young Englishman, Sir VIII
frid Gates-Darby. and quite covered
himself with glory. and the plaudits
OF the audience, for an unusually
good bit of work. William Powell
was admirable as Judge Phillimore,
and Jane Houston. as his divorced
wife, was quite the picture intend
ed by the playwright. Of handsome
and fascinating woman. William
Pringle was excellent as the Rev.
Matthew Phillimore. and Halbert
Brown. as William Cudley; Leonora
Won Ottinger, as Mrs. Phillimore.
ST.; Gertrude Workman, as Miss
Heneage: Eileen Wilson, as Grace
Phillimore, all sisters. cousins and
aunts OF Judge Phillimore. each
offered able characterizations of the
roles entrusted to them. Other mem.
bers OF the cast included Willard
Perry, Jerome Hickman, Arthur
Allen. June Warren and Vincent
Bernard.
The stage settings were OF the
sort that Miss Bonstelle has accus-
toned her audiences to expect
correct and in good taste, and with
handsome frocks for the women.
Seven Keys to Baldpate" will be
the second weeks offering Of the
company, beginning Monday even
ing, July IL.
ELL A MAr IL A xx,rIInp