The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1915-08-03
GARRlCK.

All men should strive to die as
Mr.. Argyle died, so that more of us
| might find careers as detectives like
Asche Kayton. to make our lives
more interesting TO ourselves and
to the public
The Argyle Case" kept the Gar
rick theater audience, Monday
night, tense with interest and ex.
element for four acts. and as this
Is the entire number of acts in the
play. II follows that it's a good
show. The fact that the Bonstelle
company was handling 1t insured
the adequacy Of acting and staging.
A few finger marks. counterfeit
bill that would have deceived any.
body but Asche Kayton, and a large
acquaintance with psychology were
all the detective needed to unravel
the mystery OF Argyle's death. The
play Is a success because IL always
keeps about three jumps ahead of
the audience, bringing on its char.
acters, yanking them OF and chang
Ing the situation with such rapidity
that the mind grasps but cannot d.
gest the implications before some
thing arises TO give new twist to
the primary facts. So after trying
In vain to puzzle out solution from
the various examinations that take
place In Act I. the spectator who
gives II mp. and decides to let the
company go ahead In its own way.
without any help from him. Is the
one who gets the most enjoyment.
THE Argyle Case" gives better
test OF the Bonstelle company's abil.
ity than any Of the preceding offer.
ings. It is play that offers every
temptation to the actor to be
STACY" to work himself up into a
great deal OF draamtic excitement,
to pitch his part In too high key.
But the Bonstelle company strives
to be natural. Life itself. not stage
life, Is its criterion. Ii goes about
the play In very matter-offact
manner, with the result that Miss
Won Ottinger's two big scenes are
tremendous in their effect, and there
Is no anti-clmax the fourth act.
after the intenseness OF the third.
Telephoning plays an important
part In THE Argyle Case" There
| are two ways of telephoning. The
accepted stage way is to grasp the
instrument. say "Hollo, hello" very
rapidly before central has chance
to inquire, Number. please" and
rattle OF conversation in a voice
that nobody on the other end OF
the line could possibly understand.
But Corliss Giles and Robert Adams
have another way. They use the
phone as II IT really were connect
ed with Bell exchange. and give
the girl a reasonable time TO get a
number for them. or course. II
isn't realism, for they always man.
age to get their number. and they
don't have to call more than once:
but the stage strives for the ideal
In telephone service. as well as in
other departments OF life.
Miss Bonstelle plays the part OF
Mary Mssuret, Argyle's adopted
daughter. a part which does not
keep her on the stage very long. but
gives an opportunity for good acting
which Miss Bonstelle improves won
derfully. The big emotional role is
In the hands of Miss Won Ottinger
as Mrs. Martins. Mary's mother.
who gave up her infant child to fol-
low Frederick Kreisler, the counter.
feiter. Any slight suspicion which
former plays have given that Miss
Won Ottinger is a fine actress, was
shaped into certainty, Monday even
Ing. With what skill and what Gin
cerity she handles the part. How
well she brings out the conflict be
tween her motherinstinct and her
love for Kreisler. Miss Houston as
the voluable Mrs. Wyatt tickles the
house. Miss Wilson as Nancy Thorn
ton and Miss Workman as the maid
Kitty. have very slight chances to
display their well-known ability.
Corliss Giles as Asche Kayton
The personfication Of William ]
Burns. IL on the stage most OF the
time, and his acting Is interesting
forceful and natural. Usually he is
the hard. cold man Of brains. SUI
perior to circumstances and con