The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1917-03-17
Artistic Worth
Marks Little
Theofer Plays

The best Work yet accomplished
by the amateur players OF the Little
theater was presented Friday even
ing. in the artistic box OF a play
house In the Society OF Arts and
Crafts building.
Director Sam Hume certainly
achieved results In the four one-act
plays given-"HelenA's Husband"
a delightful travesty by Philip Noel
Ter; "Trines." farm melodrama by
Susan Giaspell, and two OF the much
tsiKed-about Lord Dunsany's plays,
THE differing Gate" and The Lost
Silk Hat" All were put on with
great care and distinct charm a. TO
stage settings. and acted with real
ability by Mr. Hume and his asso
eiates.
The Moeller skit. placed in the
time OF ancient Greece. sklltully rid
iculed certain phases OF modern
thought. domestic relations and In.
ternational diplomacy. II was anus
ingly portrayed by Doris Dretska as
the beauteous Queen Helena: Ma
bel Woodward. as her dusky slave;
Edgar w. Bower "a Menelaus, the
king: A. l. Weeks as Analytikos.
philosopher. sage and the royal IL
brarian, and Gerald s. Patton as
Paris, who would a-wooing OF He
lena 20. The lines are saurically
witty and keen.
Tribes" the drab tale OF crime
committed In lonely farmhouse.
was admirably acted by Mrs. c. Pr
quette Mitchell. Bertha Barney. w.
V. Mckee, Winniett Wright and L.
w. Porter. The women gave par
ticularIy good character studies and
the offering was quite worthy OF the
professional stage.
The Glittering Gate" employs two
characters only--'late" Cockney bur
glars who, in the midst OF a noun
tain OF empty beer bottles. come
plumb up against the gate OF heav-
on. which one cracks" with his
Jimmy only 20 find nothing but
stars and space beyond. and the
echo OF sardonic, hooking laughter
The burglars were played by Mr.
Hume and Mr. Weeks. and the in.
comparable Dunsany dialogue was
given by the players with fine eff
feet. both having the advantage OF
sonorous speaking voice and clear
enunciAtion, and the ability TO main
tain a dialect when once II is taken
up.
THE Lost SIX Hat" is delightful
comedy. remindful OF the whimsical
satire 20 be found in Gilbert and
Sullivan's Patience" The poet or
Sam Hume hight have been Bun
thorne come 10 life. The skit Is
most amusing and was spiritedly
presented by Mr. Hume. John II.
Townley. Mr.. Weeks, Mr.. Patton
and Mr.. Wright. The burden OF car.
rying II TO success fell upon Mt
Townley az the Caller, Mr.. Hume
as the Poet. and Mr. Weeks as the
Laborer II Is delicious humor and
It's points were emphasized by the
players with the skill and ease OF
the experienced actor.
The settings for the four plays
were designed BY Mr.. Hume and
Miss Alexandrine McEwen. and had
the merit Of originality. appropriate
ness and care In artistic detail The
lighting effects OF Mr. Hume's IN
vention and development are 20 i'm
portant and yet so subservient 10
the artistic whole as to deserve spe-
ciAl commentator.
The brief season OF the Little the
alter SO far has demonstrated that
Detroit harbors much good dramatic
talent and that Mr.. Hume's efforts
are meeting with the recognition
they deserve.
The fourth production OF the sea
son viii be made April ~ and IA.
when the program will consist also
OF four short plays.
The performance Of Friday even.
ing win be repeated Saturday after.
noon and evening. All performances
are open to the public
ELLA MAE HAWTHORNE.