The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-12-28
PLAY WITHOUT VILLAIN
OR A WRONGED HEROINE.

REPUBLIC SPECIAL
New York, Dec. 27.-For the second of
tho holiday weeks, which ushers in the
new year. there is variety of good
dramatic offerings In the theaters At
many playhouses old favoritcs remain,
while to those that change their bills
weekly go many new plays.
That any author has so far broken
away from the beaten paths over which
the dramatists ever toll toward fame as
to write a play without a villain. q
Wronged heroine or trace of sensational
ism seems almost impossible. This unique
condstion, however, is just what is claimed
for Merely Mary Ann" which Israel
Of that name. 1t certainly has the charm
Of novelty, and New York Is ever keen
for a new sensation.
MT rely Mary Armand the title Is q
bit eccentric, too-will be given its first
production in New York tomorrow night
at the Garden Theater, Then we can all
see whether the yillainless unwronged he
roine cult in comedy is a possibility or
not. Miss Eleanor Robson will appear in
the stellar role, which is one that ex-
acts much.
Miss Robson has been appearing in
Merely Mary Ann in the large cities
throughout the country and has been the
happy recipient of much favorable COM
ment. She now comes before the bar of
the New York first-nighter for final
judgment.
Another play from the prolific pen of
Clyde Fitch Is to be produced at the Sa-
voy Theater tomorrow night. the title Of
which is 'Glad of IT. Mr.. Fitch is fond
of spearing the -Four Hundred % on his pen,
neatly and emusingly-to all but the Four
Hundred. This time, however. he has Sc
lected types from different walk Of life.
big New York department store for his
chief characters, and, finding an 'anger
for couple of them. has sent them on the
that are made overnight and who shine
as long as the angels money lasts.
The chief characters in Glad of IT. are
with Connie, Bowles, a pretty saieslady,
who refuses to be smitten by the passage
way chief, and Clarita de Baxter. aI.sther
s oSE ker ThS finds Morton an anS makes s'
break for the stage. Clarita foolishly
wants to show off her young man to
the girls in the department store, and trots
him in to buy her cloak. OF course he
falls in love with Connie and offers her
place in 1.-THE Society GirP' comedy which
he is about to produce for Miss de Baxter
begins between the girls, and 1t wakes hot
when they meet ct the theater
Rehearsal is.called. and incidentally the
Savoy stage is turned inside out to let the
audience see .'how the thing works when
play is being produced there: No. end Of
amusing situations occur, and Clarita de
Baxter eventually loses ner young man,
who marries Connie.
The useful moral is that when sales
lady" manages to engage the affections of
a rich young fellow and heads up Broad
way for stage career, 1t Is just as well
not to bring him back to show him off to
the girls at the shop.
In addition to having fun with depart
ment store and a theater, there is scene
in a. typical summer clearinghouse at
Hanna by the-Sea," in which the dram
afist will probably touch up seaside board
lighthouses as cleverIy as he caricatured
Harlem fiat life in THE Girl and the
Judge"
Miss Mile James, who recently made a
pronounced hit in Mr.. Dillingham's pro-
duction of 'sThe Little Princess" Is to
have a GROWN up part in the comedy,
and Is to play Connie Bowles. Jack
Barrymore, brother of Miss Ethel Bar
rymore. is TO play Corley, press agent
for the newly made star; Miss Lucille
Watson is TO be the Miss Baxter: Miss
Phyllis Rankin has prominent role; Ed
ward Abels will be the hoorwaIker and H
Hassard Short. Reggie, the angel" The
company is large and strong one. In
fact. there are ffty-two speaking parts.
perhaps with the idea that it may run a
year. and that there should be one for each
week.
s Never has Miss Ethel Barrymore had a