The Detroit times., 1916-02-29
8. ..ITIEATERS...


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sOrunpy.~ product Of the collabo
sat1ng eoaius e Horace Hodges and
=. WIgnsy Psrcyval, presents the
innovattea az passaoa. pstulance'
synpathy. ssduotivsnsss. etc.. ex.
prosssd through the human voics In
stsad Of being Dacsured snd spelled
ont On screens. Even the depict
nent ce The most terrible moment
a. the Dlay-an assault with intent
70 commit Eobbsry--is entirely vo-
cal. only the groans OF the victim
with an occasional crash OF furni-
tursl translating the struggle upon
the darkened stage.
In like nanner-And In commem-
oration of the stage recovering It's
voice--let m appraise this gripping
play soiely through liz loeution.
Cyril Maude's voicing Of ''Grumpy'
(bousehold name Of Andrew Built
want, aged criminal lawyer who has
retired from court practice to take
II out Of servants, guests. doctors
and clergymen) revealed tho mar
velous range Of human speech a.
the vehicle Of varying emotions
eyplosively, Querulous and raspinE
to valet and menials, indulgently
tender and soiicitous to granddaush-
ter and nephew. vitheringly face
tious to the attending physician and
departing guests. petulant and play
full by turns with everyone, and un-
sparinsly searching and imperious In
his investigation Of all ~ the sium-
bering professional nre II rekindled
by the theft under his own roof Of
a diamond from the person OF his
nephew. TO whom II had been en-
trusted By . South African company
for delivery to their agents in Lon
don.
By the audible tests alone, Mr..
Maude must be adjudged q master
ful artist In this personation of the
crotchety. compassionate. keen-wit-
ted. waspish "Grumpy."
Herbert Marshall. speaking for
Ernest Heron. the nephew. personal
escort for the almost priceless
sparkler from the dark continent.
used with frank Baturainess and in
fectious fervor the accents that dis
closed his nlial devotion to his un-
Gle and His desire dating back to
boyhood) to have and hold the be-
vitehing granddaughter. Virginia
BuIlivant Mr.. Jarvis. the London
dip In dress suit. who was a week
end guest Of Grumpy for revenue
only. was equipped By Alexander
OnsIow with the persuasive ret sim
liter vocal effects that long expert
encc has shown to be indispensable
to . suaye scoundreI coveting both
another mans diamond and his
sweetheart
The ho1eyed speech OF Jarvis be-
suilcs Virginia into . mad-cap call
It his rooms In London. but the
guileless granddaughter tinstantiy
contrits over her aAvsntuFs) II saw
Cd from the trap prepared for her
by -Grumpy's' clever bit Of detec-
tive work. which begins quite un-
promisingly with . boutonniere
found Ii the hand Of Heron when
he h discovered unconscio&s from
the blow of the thief In the Buili-
want library. but which leads thrill
insiy TO the arrest Of Jarvis as the
diamond thief and assailant.
Miss Elsie McKay's Iinpid speech
should not be left out Of this vocal
review. The soft tones can excel
lent thing In woman'') she makes
Virginia use With faultIess enuncia-
tion are enough to guarantee com
petition between two fascinating
young men on any stage.
All other lips involved In this
once-famfliar style Of histrionic pre-
sentation are praissworthy: their
lines enter into the perfection Of q
superbly spoken story.
"Grumpy's" profane grumblings
(never mind. be has morning pray
ers) will be heard ali the week, with
usual matinees.
cARAick.
Glitter and glare, brass and blare.
and the solemn-visaged numor Of
that easy comedian. Clifton Craw-
ford, are the high lights in the vau-