Los Angeles herald., 1905-10-31
|DRAMA't 5..a.s5
DUE i. ACTRESS
ELEANOR RUBSUN Dior -, :
MARVELLOUS ART
In "MereIy Mary Ann" She Exerts a
Power Over Her Audience
That Is Little Short
of Psychic
Merely Mary Ann"

A four act drama by Israel Zangwill,
produced last evening at the Mason
opera house by Miss Eleanor Robson
and supporting company under the
management of George C. Tyler. The
cast:
Lancelot ...............H H. b.. Warner
Peter ............. Ernest Mainwaring
Rev Samuel Smedge. w. A. Hackett
Herr Bralmson. .Morten Selten
OGorman ............. Charles Martin
Jim Blaydes. ........ Thomas Graham
Lord Iottenham. .'.'..... Arthur story
Mrs; Leadbatter. ....'.: Ada DwXer
The Sisters Trippit. .,.......
Bertha Morris, Annie Geary
Lady Chelmer. .... Mrs. c. w. Brooke
''0'i ''9' " rO" Kate Pattison selten
Lady Gladys Tottenham Ida Hamilton
Lady Glynn. :. Isabel Merrill Richards
Howard ................C. L. Meeking
Mary Ann, Merely. :. Eleanor Robson
Israel zangwill rises to the dignity
Of a successful playwright by virtue
Of the acting powers of Miss Eleanor
Robson, whose genius in the portrayal
of the leading role in Merely Mary
Ann" has made her famous in two
continents and left Los Angeles re-
viewers little to do except echo the
lavish praises of London and New
York critics.
In the face Of Miss Robson's triumph
one Immediately discredits Mr.. Zang-
wills. 1t Is a part to bring forth a
great actress and such a part only 81
great actress could play. Without her
the drama might have been laid away
alongside of the authors other efforts.
and without such a role the actress
might have remained merely Eleanor
Robson until the end of time.
One false shading, a wrong gesture,
q single effort to play to the audience
and this wonderfully drawn character
would have been dashed into banal
sentimentality. Miss Robson walks a
narrow line and never makes a mis-
step. In her portrayal of the develop
ment of a soul her power over the au-
dience is little short of psychic.
She produces the most marvellous eff
fects, upon the intellect as we'll as the
emotions, with hardly the lift of an
eyelid. 1t is by knowing what not to
do that she is able to present the art
which conceals itself and makes the
most tremendous appeal. She finds the
sixth sense in an audience by which
blase theatergoers are led into mys-
terious and absorbing realms with the
e9 gernesS of a child listening to a fairy
story. She has lured every critic in the
country into fine writing and eX-
travagant phrases.
With the most artistic conscience
she makes the fine transition from
Mary Ann to Marian; from the rustic
serving girl, adoring the musician, who
lives in the cheap lodging house where
she works, to the grand lady, who
proves Kipling'S observation that the
queen and the serving maid are sis
ters under the skin.
Merely Mary Ann, simply, uncul-
tured drudge, comes into the life of
Lancelot when he is so far from the
fame which comes to him afterward
that he is living a solitary, miserable
existence in the pursuit of his musical
ideals. In his loneliness he carelessly
accepts the steady, unaffected, ignor-
ant worship of this young woman. 1t
is a warmth to his heart which is sol
satisfying that not until the poor girl
inherits an unexpected fortune does
he realize how deep it has gone. Then
it is her turn to be surprised She can
not see why her sudden wealth should
make any change in their friendship.
Because money has come to her she
must lose the affection and the COM
panionship of her worlds idol. And
wher. Miss Robson as Mary Ann folded
her arms around the cage containing
her pet bird and sobbed out her heart
SHe d pathetic InGL
will never be forgotten by those who
saw it. 1t was a perfect climax.
The last act is well worth while, al
though it is evidently written to ap-
pease the demand for a happy ending,
without which it is said a play cannot
live. Mary Ann is the guest in a fine
house where Lancelot comes as the
lion of the hour, and they meet again
after six years. The old love returns
to each, but 1t is as Mary Ann and not
as Marian that she finally gives herself
to him.
Special mention should be made of
admirably within limits. In no respect
did the drama display any evident
striving for points, and there We're
only a few theatrical tricks aimed to
catch the gallery The wheels ran al
most as smoothly as natures own.
An excellent supporting company
added to the brilliancy of the perform
ance. II. B. Warner gave a delightful
Interpretation of the young struggling
genius, who must sacrifice his ideals
in order to exist. The role gives a
wide scope for his evident powers.
Ernest Mainwaring was good as Peter.
Ada Dwyer in the part of Mrs. Lead
batter presented a conception true to
life. The opportunity to overdo the
Part was carefully avoided.
The play was not so well patronized
as it deserved. 1t will continue the
entire week with a matinee Saturday.
On Wednesday afternoon Miss Robson