The leader., 1905-08-30
MERELY MARY ANN.


the dramatic history of Brookha-
ven. Everybody was at the OPP
era House and Nobody was dis
appointed; in fact, expectation
was far surpassed BY The material
ization offondest hopes and de-
sires, of pride or pleasure il every
movement of our talented young
people who appeared in Merely
Mary Ann. It is worthy of
note that the three or four plays
which achieved great success on.
the New York stage last winter
we're all written by American
playwrights. Israel Zangwill's
Merely Mary Ann, . in which
Eleanor Robson took the leading
part, was one Of these and made
most profound impression. This
was repeated in Brookhaven last
night when Miss Josie Mercedes
Becker played the principal role
with simplicity and sincerity of
manner most winning, and apro-
pos the soul of the beautiful story.
Mr.. Ferd v. Becker as Lance
lot, the composer and lover of
classical music, was excellent
throughout his difficult role. His
past successes in amateur theatri-
Gals have given to his work a fin
ish, a satisfying quality, which
only experience and a love for
the art can bring. Mr.. Becker's
stage presence and his personnel
were fortunate concomitants of
his role. Mrs. Susie Becker See
mann's impersonation of the En-
glish lodging house keeper was
perfect, from her cockney dialect
to her crocodile tears shed over
Mary Ann, when she departed
from her roof a millionaire ess. "
Miss Sara Storm and Miss Ada
Sherman as the Trippett Sisters,
were very fascinating specimens
of the London music ball artist. +"
Miss Nellie McGrath, as "Ro-
sie,o 2 added a touch Of humor to
the pathcs of the play and acted
her part we'll.
Mr.. Abb Cohn played a fine sec
ond to the leading part taken by
Mr.. Becker and riveted interest
in his splendid rendition of "Mr.
Peters" part, and at each appear
ance added new enthusiasm to the
evening.
Edward Thurber, the versatile
genius, appeared in several roles
and made some of the best hits of
the evening, all the way from a
negro minstrel to country vicar.
His name in cast will always at
tract a crowd; for his fame is now
assured, and with such natural en-
dowmednt as he evinced last
night, Mr.. Thurber should "for
the benefit of his friends" be gen
erous with his talents. He is a
rara avis among amateurs, and the
Brookhaven public would be
pleased at his more frequent ap-
pearance before the footlights here
instead of New York.
The parts taken by the we'll and
popularity known Martin I. Flood,
were not such as to bring forward
his best gifts; but with his usual
maonanimity he gave himself up
to the success of the evening and
helped to make it the brilliant
climax of weeks of studious appli-
cation by all concerned in the cast.
In the last act, the drawing
room scene was especially attrac-
tive and the gowns worn by the
lovely young ladies and by Mrs.
Seemann were to the Queens
taste. The gIorIfied Mary Ann
was a picture of purity and beauty
in her clinging silken robes. an
exquisite creation that seemed to
have stepped out of the 'Econo-
mist" with no economy in its
rich rythm of beauty and effec-
tive ensemble.
Miss Nellie McGrath gave a vo-
cal solo in the course of one of her
assumed parts, which delighted her
audience.
Between the acts Mrs. Ira L.
Parsons and Mrs. Martin I. Flood
sang pretty selections, and each
was cordially encored.
The evening was gratifying
financially as well as otherwise;
and Nobody went away from
the scene of the play dissatisfied.
In fact, it was remarked that many
travelling troupes that have stop
ped in Brookhaven have fallen far
short of the excellence shown by
our Brookhaven histrionic talent
last night.
These young people might well
take the roado and thus add to
the name and fame they achieved
in our vicinity last evening.