The Detroit times., 1916-05-10
- THE
STAGE

"rhe Birth of Nation" d. w.
Griffith's superb spectacle OF the
screen. returns to the Detroit opera
house for limited engagement
starting Sunday afternoon. May IA.
The hrst half of the picture In given
over to the period Immediately pre-
ceding and the fve years after the
Civil war. Great battle scenes
spread over an entire country are
shown from mountain top and the
horror OF war, particularly OF Civil
war. Is shown In sickening detail by
closer views Of bayonet charges
which arc terrific In realism. The
picture of q confederate trench
where starvation Is doing deadlier
work than northern bullets, IL anoth.
er potent argument against Civil
war or war Of any sort. The second
half In given over to the reconstruc-
ton period and In the latter half OF
the film, the portrayal Of the rise
and success OF the Ku klux Khan Is
worked out. hundreds OF fantsstical-
ly clad horsemen being shown rid
ing over broad stretches Of beautiful
country on their self-appointed mis-.
sion. Throughout all OF this there
is a love story that Is tender and
true. Mr.. Griffith for this produc-
ton. had a score written to the sew
eral thousand and distinct scenes
that is as elaboi ate and complex as
any grand opera. The fine sym
phony orchestra that accompanied
the film on its former visit will
again be In evidence.
There will be three well-known
features on the Orpheum bill next
week. with headline honors accorded
the Great LAMBERT. who will pre-
sent with the aid of several assist
ants portrayals of the worlds great
est musical geniuscs. LAMBERT
plays the piano. cello and violin and
his character impersonations are
said 10 be artistic in the extreme.
Charles b. Middleton and Lenore
Spellmeyer and company of In
dams, will be seen In a hilarious
comedy, "A Texas Wooing." Grace
Hazard In 'Five Feet Of Comic
| OPERA also Is featured. Louise
Bauer and Pauline Saunders in pop
ular songs, AL Ward and Michael
Fay In bits Of artistic nonsense, and
the Three Bobs. AL Ward and Mich
ael Fay In bits Of artistic nonsense.
and the Three Bobs, eccentric jug
Cling comics. are others On the hill
There will be feature films before
and after the vaudeville and dane
ing contest for local amateurs Fri
day night.
| Maude Adams, who Is charming
all her old admirers, and a score OF
new. in the Detroit opera house
this week, with her delightful i'm.
PRESERVATION Of Lady Babbie, In Bar
rie's Scotch comedy, "The Little
Minister" is emphatic In the belief
that the play Is the thing. and then
its method Of projection. One Of
her artistic advisers for many years
was the late John w. Alexander
who. at his death was spoken of as
one of the four great American
painters. Mr.. Alexander was the
designer Of scenery, costumes and
color effects for Miss Adams and
yet no one ever knew OF his connec-
ton with the plays. The present
1 let 10, Af hn Ia
a young man. the son OF one Of
| Americas greatest sculptors. He was
educated in Harvard and in Ger
many and has had much experience.
This fact Is not blazoned forth.
Miss Adams does not believe In ex-
plotting personalities. She believes
that the public is not interested so
much as to VINO does the things In
the theater as It Is In seeing how
well they are done.
Erred Twins Big Show" will be
In the Gayety next week with an
entertainment which II is declared
In hook, music, scenery and costumes
Is all new. irwin was one Of the
founders Of organized burlesque and
other producers are accustomed to
look to him for new ideas for the
burlesque business. The company
will offer a satire on Divorces en-
titled "Frenchec and Her ex.Hus-
bands" with tie chief entertainers
including Florence Bennett, Virginia
Irwin, Marguerite Sharpe, Elmer
Tenley, John Sherry. Paul Cunning
ham. Al HITLER, Jerry Mandy and
the Xela sisters, six Of them, who
have . dancing surprise. There is
q chorus of 30 girls and boys with