The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-11-22
Cbe Cbeatres
Mise Robson in .sMerely Mary Ana.''


 The clever genius of Israel ZangwtH and the exauisite art of Eleanor Robson met in the stage production of Merely Mary Ann," and gave to the world one of the most soul-stirring. heart-satis- flying theatrical entertainments the world has ever seen.
 Miss Robson is so completely tdenti- fled with the sweetly simple London lodging house slavey which ZangwilI drew with a masters brush that one cannot disassociate her from the pic ture. It is impossible to regard Mary Ann" without considering Eleanor RoD- son. She is the only woman who has played the part and so we are not aoie to judge the play abstractly. It IS sald that Miss Robson saw the inhnite oeau ty of the Zangwill story and persuaded inc great writer to dramatize 1t for her. We hope this is true, for 1t heightens our respect for Miss Robson,
 The limpid purity of Merely Mary Ann" its delft touches of human sor- row, it's lifting of the veil that hldes the soul, it's delicate satire, its me con struction, are all the hallmarks of sucn a genius as Zangwill. Not story or inc strength and force or dramatic ire that the great Hebrew gave us in his children of the Ghetto" this comedy Merely Mary Ann is powerful Tn us simplicity-the soAt of comedy that might have failed but for the greatness the intelligence, the artistic tempera- ment of Eleanor Robson
 And Zangwill demonstrates by thls comedy that he is more than creative genius. The fire of his imagination Is not his only great power. If he dram atized Merely Mary Ann" without as- sistance he has proved himself a master of stage technique, which IS thihS apart from most great literary men
 This beautiful story is pitched m a highly sentimental key. but 1t is al- ways elevating and the interest is nrofound. There could not be a com monplace line in a Zangwill comedy. He may have been prosatc in spots put ZangwilI was never turgid- HIS men and women are ever clean-cut. lndl- vidual. vivid pictures and their dia- logue in Merely Mary, Ann" Is so sparkling. so spontaneous, quaint ana original, and the comedy was so de" Iightfully blended with the thoroughly human passages that the whole was made to harmonize into an entertain ment that gave perfect pleasure.
 It was an evening of complete charm at the Montgomery Theatre. fine au- dience. one that was representative of Alabamas capital city fully compre- hended before the first act was over the cause for Miss Robson's leao into tame, the true reason for her triumph in London and her enormous success III New York She stepped into the spirit of Zangwill's delicious comedy. She read the innermost depths of the poor little slavey's heart and having al- ready a sure foundation as an actress she was able to portray Mary Ann" as perhaps no other woman will be able to do
 Miss Robson's consummate art in this comedy is of the appealing kind and this is why we liked her so much more than when she undertook to command &us as Audrey" She simply reaches put over the foot lights and takes us Unto her poor little. feeling, thinking. Nut unlettered. life and we are forced No join in her love for Lancelet and &earn with her for her green country Ind bluebells. She does not allow us b forget her sorrows and joys and linen it is all over we are brought up W&th a shock at the realization that vy cannot go on living with Marian a rM Lancelet; that the current of our liuHs must part and that We cannot flu Mher share the joys that came to thtW at the close.
 Ghis feeling was so strong at the cr&e that the large audience sat a full miINte in the seats and demanded two raists of the curtain that it might havM fond glimpse of Marion in the aruIN of her composer--sweethear Naturally the supporting company wa Every effective There were none of Nose little flaws which so q6teu riseHnp and damn play that wSold be Fherwise near perfect MT War