New-York tribune., 1900-03-27
THE DRAMA
A NEW DICKENS DRANrs >
MARY sANrERs IN rwo cHAa.c-,

MARY SANLERS IN TWO CHARACTERS
The recurrence of Dickens on the stage ia alv.
pubic oenent' 'or the reason that the works I.
that great author. more than those Of aImos, 49,
other writer OF our language. exert the avn.
pathetic and cheering influence Of hurna,,. &
humor. II is pleasant Wherefore 10 wsIco... a"'
new Dickens drama. and 20 record its .,,cca,
presentation. neat and effective ,hAa,~se--
synopsis OF THE Old Curiosity shon.. 49,
Mr. Henry P. Mawsou and set By NJ vrT,, v
Seymour both OF Boston. was PRODUCED Ia. '..ai .N
at the Herald Square Theatre and II ,v.. -,
with interest and received with abundan, -
by a large audience. Miss Mary sanas- -
actress trained the local stage and LONG -,
In New-Engiand. making her first appearance he.
as star. presented the characters OF Iit,Is NJ
and the Marchloness. and IN both OF ths-, -
more in the latter than the former she s,,,-.1
justified her ambitious endeavor. The eharac,.
OF Little Nell never has been. and IL uAver 60 -
made strongly effective for the reason ,s,
IL typihes condition and action r,,
Nell must be lovely. gentle, and arectiona,a -
cling her infirrn and foolish old grand,a,s
and strive TO protect him. and In the cour.a !,
their wanderngs. 10 escape from the rnalsvo1.,
persecution OF Quilp and Brass. she must farsr
and droop. and die. The essence OF the uar, q
suffering 1t was not difficult for Miss Marv sa-s.-
with her slight. girllike figure delicate hIos
coloring. dainty ways, artless vocal method ,-s
earnest spirit. to express the sweetness ana ~,
patient fidelity Of Little Nell to embotv ~
poems the Babe Christa5elIe'' OF Ger,Is
Massey and the Babe Bell d" OF AIdrich-in WHIT,
there Is a premonitioh Of early death, and 10 suz.
gest the pathos OF that inscrutable fate whth
sometimes blishts the opening rose and darkens
life OF beauty at its dawn Such parts as Ll.r.
Nell. Little Eva. Little Dora spenIow etc ar.
usually made insiprc Miss Sanders invested he,
child OF sorrow and predestinate misfortune u,ts
natural and refreshing vivacIty not fncorapat,bis
with perfect innocence. and. without any sacr.
fee OF poetic tenderness made her healthful and
human.
AS drawn by Dickens Little Nell manftestIv IA,
intended TO embody poetic ideal: the very Ian
guage Of the story. in certain parts OF 1t thar
especially relate 10 this exquisite character takes
on the form of rhapsody and glides into blank
verse The dramatist. wisely aware that too much
goodness in a work OF art may degenerate into
goodyism, has not elaborated Little Nell bur has
only used her for the dramatic purpose OF contras,
with the MarchiOness-the poor little "sIavey"
arch, quaint. blithe. mischievous frollcsome hu-
morousiy forlorn and almost pathetically comic in
the ntggardly and cruel household environment az
Sampson and Sally Brass. In this part Miss Mary
Sanders manifested the gift OF eccentric comedy
entering fully into the life OF the elash. sub
missive Yet rebelliOus and irresistiblv corntc
little scullion timid as a hare before her hats
ful oppressors. and now wildly defiant OF them and
playing pranks upon them. in the exuberance q,
her animal spirits and her joy The festive meeting
between the Marchioness and Dick SwiveIler was
in particular. animated with most exhiIarating
spirit of frolic. Prompt and expeditions in action
piquant in speech. buoyant in spirit sportive with.
out being coarse and refined without being prudish
this mpersonatOn will be remembered as truthflIly
interpretative Of the author and auspiciousIy in
dicative of clever actress II ought however IN
stantly TO be relieved Of it's sniff" A cold IN tbs
head can never be made interesting: II may be
nature. but 1t Is not art The field of the Dickens
drama contains many gems of character: David
Copperfield "Dombey & Son." BLEAK House"
and CHI
still names conjure with: and perhaps the ad
vent of this new actress. who comes with a good
company and succeeds without the adventitious
aids of buffoonery music hall minstresy pre-
sages a welcome time In which, as IN the good days
or Burton and BrOugham. OF Florence and Roxa
II VIII once more be explored. with golden results
for an intellectual community. The inpersonat,ous
or Quilp, by Mr.. Anderson. and old Trent by
John Jack twho was obviously suffering ws.s
heavy cold) should be named as worthy OF the best
period that the Dickens plays have ever known
Mr. Anderson's impersonation OF Quilp has lonz
been known. and 1t is known only 10 be admired
Its horrible vitality it's continuous suggestion OF
tremendous physical strength and its grim and
grisly humor, diversified with moments OF watch
full deliberate attention and moments OF mallgnan.
frenzy combine to invest IL with repusivs and yet
fascinating reality-the blending OF human tnteil-
gence with reptile venom. Most OF the associated
characters exhibited that element OF caricaturs
and exaggeration which is so conspicuous In soma
OF the writings OF Dickens, and at times so wea1-
some The play does not clearly disclose the mo-
tive OF the double pursuit OF old Trent and his
granddaughter by QuiIp and by Garland and more
or less IL fs-as is perhaps unavofdable-"a thing
of shreds and patches; but il proved steadily
teresting. The author was called after the third
curtain. and he made graceful speech. expressive
of his gratitude 20 the public and also that Of Mss
Mary Sanders. WV.