The Washington herald., 1908-03-15
Miss Eleanor Robson

Without detracting from the art OF
Eleanor Robson or the attachments OF
Paul Armstrong, il must be apIaren;
,sS-t the larger measure OF success OF
~Salomy jane comes from the genius
Of Bret Harie, and never was genius SO
thoroughly American in its proclivities
as his. The people are distinctive type
Of classes OF character which have ex-
listed only within the confines OF what Is
now the United States. The scenes which
he depicts could have happened in no
other country, and certainly 10 such at
mosphere could ever have been created
except by picturing the life of the pionee.
settlers OF the far West With all OF
this is coupled the same power OF char
acter delineation, the same quiet humor,
the same compelling pathos. and the
same vivid and concrete power Of de-
seription which has characterized the
writings of the great figures of the
worlds Hteratures OF whatever country.
cline. or nationality.
Why, therefore, will we keep crying
out for the Great American Play" when
we have pelnty Of material for the manu-
facture Of great plays OF American life?
Why rot explore still further the dark
and half-forgotten recesses os American
literature, and not sigh constantly Tor
something new? We have Irving, Poe.
Cooper, and quite a respectable list of
others yet 10 draw from.
II is a fortunate circumstance attending
the present production. that it lad the
services Of Mr.. Paul Armstrong; as
adapter. In the first place. he has evil
IDENTIFY studied and understands the rule
governing correct dramatic construction.
and this first and essential quality IS fol-
lowed by others OF striking merit He
has the faculty OF fitting in crisPy dia-
logues without drawing from the action
He knows where to draw the line be-
tween the romantic and the melodrd-
matte. and is able to construct good
acting version without detracting from
the poetry, pathos, humor, or atm5sfhere
Such combination OF power is rare, a.d
should be fostered
BY her success in "Salomy Jane. =" the
swift rise in reputation Of Miss Robson
IS entirely justified. Emerging suddenly
from comparative obscurity. she has
risen with more than common celerit,.
and she now stands in the front rank Of
American actresses. having the mei1- of
temperament, versatility, and expressive
power, especially in a line OF characters
involving the quaint and picturescue.
and her effective use Of her emotional
powers would lead one to feel that sic
must rise higher and higher as a per-
sistent pOrTayer OF the strictly classical
One great difficulty that Miss Robson
has known during her career as a star
has been that of securing plays ADEQUATE
TO her genius. That her ability covers
wide range must be evident to any one
who recalls her excellence in A vide
range Of parts. which includes Constance
IN Mrs Browning's In Balconv:~
Juliet, in which her ability was wonder
fully marked. and characters such as
that she is essaying now. Mr.. George
{. Tyler. Of the firm OF LiebIer * Co.
who came over to see his star during
the week and TO assist i'm putting on
Nurse Marjorie" on Saturday. has con-
tracted with no less than six different
dramatists who are AT work in an ef-
fort TO create play that will without
question fit Miss Robson. II is 10 be
hoped that one Of these six plavs viii
be worthy of her genius. and will give
her an opportunity-which is all I'D 10
the present time she has lacked-of TAX
ing her place at the head OF her profess
sion.